Kimai: Two-factor authentication bypass on the Kimai API
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · Low · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-287.
Summary
Kimai is an open-source time tracking application. Prior to 2.59.0, the KIMAI_SESSION cookie issued after password verification but before TOTP completion is accepted by every /api route because config/packages/security.yaml protects the API with IS_AUTHENTICATED and App\API\Authentication\ApiRequestMatcher routes an existing session through the main firewall. A Scheb TwoFactorToken satisfies that access rule, and App\Voter\ApiVoter grants API access to its User, allowing an attacker with a valid account password to use authenticated REST API operations without entering the second factor even though web routes remain blocked. This issue is fixed in version 2.59.0.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| kimai | kimai | before 2.59.0 | 2.59.0 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | kimai/kimai (Packagist) | before 2.59.0 | 2.59.0 | Patch available | GHSA-v8hx-4vx8-wc96 |
- kimai Vendorkimai Affected before 2.59.0 Fixed in 2.59.0 Patch available CNA
- kimai/kimai (Packagist) Vendor— Affected before 2.59.0 Fixed in 2.59.0 Patch available GHSA-v8hx-4vx8-wc96
Remediation
- Fix · CNA kimai (kimai) Fixed in 2.59.0
- Fix · GHSA-v8hx-4vx8-wc96 kimai/kimai (Packagist) Fixed in 2.59.0 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-52827
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-v8hx-4vx8-wc96
References
Other 6
- https://github.com/kimai/kimai/security/advisories/GHSA-v8hx-4vx8-wc96
- https://github.com/kimai/kimai/pull/5957
- https://github.com/kimai/kimai/commit/87c85270a98899e6545108cbb9f41103ec6ea312
- https://github.com/kimai/kimai/releases/tag/2.59.0
- https://www.kimai.org/en/security/ghsa-v8hx-4vx8-wc96
- https://github.com/kimai/kimai
More kimai vulnerabilities
- TI-2023-30240 Kimai 1.30.10 SameSite Cookie Vulnerability Session Hijacking CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.5
- TI-2026-55437 Kimai before 2.58.0 Authentication Bypass via Password Reset Link CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
- TI-2026-55443 Kimai before 2.56.0 Authorization Bypass via TimesheetVoter CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.3
- TI-2026-22900 Kimai: API invoice endpoint missing customer-level access control (IDOR) CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.5
- TI-2026-55440 Kimai before 2.54.0 Username Enumeration via Timing Oracle CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.3
- TI-2026-37927 Incorrect authorization in kimai CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.3
Sources
- CVE-2026-52827 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-52827 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-v8hx-4vx8-wc96 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences