CVE-2026-0622 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Open5GS, specifically within the WebUI. This vulnerability allows attackers to exploit a hard-coded JSON Web Token (JWT) signing key when the environment variable JWT_SECRET_KEY is not set. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 6.5, indicating a medium level of severity that requires immediate attention.
The risk to organizations includes potential unauthorized access, which could lead to further exploitation of system vulnerabilities. Given the nature of the hard-coded JWT signing key, attackers may leverage this weakness to impersonate users or gain elevated privileges within the Open5GS environments.
Currently, there are no known exploits available in the wild, and the vulnerability has not been added to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. However, the presence of an exploit on GitHub suggests that it could be developed, making it crucial for organizations to address this vulnerability promptly.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to mitigate risks associated with CVE-2026-0622. Ensuring that the JWT_SECRET_KEY is appropriately configured is essential for maintaining the security of Open5GS deployments.
Vulnerability Details
The CVE description indicates that Open5GS WebUI utilizes a hard-coded JWT signing key ("change-me") whenever the environment variable JWT_SECRET_KEY is unset. This poses a significant security risk as it may allow attackers to forge tokens for unauthorized access.
The vulnerability has been scored with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.5, categorized as medium. It is characterized by a network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, and no user interaction necessary. The confidentiality and integrity impacts are both rated as low, while availability impact is none.
The vulnerability has been classified under CWE-798, which covers the use of hard-coded credentials. Organizations running versions of Open5GS prior to 2.7.6 are particularly vulnerable to this issue.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2026-0622 stems from the use of a hard-coded JWT signing key, which is a critical security flaw. The attack vector is network-based, allowing remote attackers to exploit this vulnerability without needing physical access to the system.
The attack complexity is low, as there are no specific privileges required, nor is user interaction necessary. This increases the likelihood of successful exploitation, making it vital for organizations to mitigate this vulnerability.
The impact on confidentiality and integrity is rated as low, meaning that while unauthorized access may be gained, the overall damage may be limited without further vulnerabilities present in the system.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world deployment risk associated with CVE-2026-0622 is significant, particularly for organizations utilizing Open5GS in critical infrastructure or communications. The potential for unauthorized access can lead to severe impacts, including data breaches and service disruptions.
Given the nature of the vulnerability and its potential exploitability, organizations must assess their deployments immediately. The vulnerability's medium severity rating suggests that it should be addressed in the priority patch cycle.
Organizations should also be aware of the blast radius potential, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to pivot to other systems within the network, leading to further vulnerabilities being exposed.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
Open5GS versions prior to 2.7.6 are affected by this vulnerability. Organizations using these versions should take immediate action to mitigate risks.
Mitigation & Remediation
To remediate this vulnerability, organizations should update to the latest version of Open5GS that addresses this issue. If a patch is not available, consider implementing workarounds such as configuring the JWT_SECRET_KEY properly.
Organizations may also benefit from reviewing their security configurations and hardening them to prevent unauthorized access. Network controls should be reinforced to monitor for any suspicious activities or attempts to exploit this vulnerability.
For more detailed guidance on security assessments, organizations can refer to our application security assessment services.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for any unusual access patterns or anomalies that may suggest exploitation attempts. Behavioral indicators such as unauthorized token generation or access to restricted resources should be flagged for review.
Network signatures should be established to detect and alert on potential exploitation attempts, particularly those that attempt to leverage the hard-coded JWT signing key.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2026-0622 highlights a crucial trend in vulnerability management regarding the use of hard-coded credentials in software applications. This vulnerability not only represents a significant risk for Open5GS but also serves as a reminder for all software developers to avoid hard-coding sensitive information.
Security teams should prioritize the implementation of secure coding practices and regularly review their applications for hard-coded secrets. Effective risk mitigation strategies include ongoing security assessments and utilizing tools to detect vulnerabilities in real-time.
For further reading on secure coding practices, organizations can refer to our secure coding practices guide and consider engaging in penetration testing to uncover similar vulnerabilities.
By staying informed and proactive, organizations can enhance their security posture against vulnerabilities like CVE-2026-0622.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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