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CVE-2026-86471

CRITICAL 9.3

Published 2026-10-20 · Last modified 2026-10-21

An unvalidated runtime configuration value in Apache CouchDB 3.5.2 and below on all platforms allows a CouchDB server admin to run arbitrary shell commands as the CouchDB operating system user. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.5.3, which fixes this issue.

ELEVATED IMPACT

Severe if exploited (CVSS 9.3), but no known exploitation and low modeled probability. Patch on a normal cadence.

Exploitation likelihood

—EPSS not yet scored

○ In CISA KEV ○ Public exploit / PoC

Impact if exploited

9.3CVSS 4.0 · CRITICAL

  • ConfidentialityHigh
  • IntegrityHigh
  • AvailabilityLow

What an attacker needs

  • ✓Access: Reachable over the network — no local access needed
  • ⚠Privileges: Requires an admin / high-privilege account
  • ✓User interaction: No user interaction needed
  • ✓Complexity: No special conditions — reliably repeatable
  • ✓Requirements: No special attack requirements

✓ lowers the bar for an attacker · ⚠ raises it

Proof of concept & exploit code

Test against your own equipment

curl -s https://vulnpedia.com/cve/CVE-2026-86471/poc.jsonMachine-readable PoC index for this CVE (for automation).

Listed for defensive triage, patch verification, and authorized testing on systems you own. Machine-readable: /cve/CVE-2026-86471/poc.json

Affected

Vendors Apache Software Foundation

Products Apache Couchdb

Weakness (CWE)

  • CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')

CVSS vector

CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:L/SC:H/SI:H/SA:L/E:A/S:N/AU:Y/R:U/V:C/RE:M/U:Red

All CVSS metrics

  • CRITICAL 9.3 v4.0 · CNA Primary
    CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:L/SC:H/SI:H/SA:L/E:A/S:N/AU:Y/R:U/V:C/RE:M/U:Red
  • CRITICAL 9.3 v4.0 · NVD Secondary
    CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:L/SC:H/SI:H/SA:L/E:A/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:N/AU:Y/R:U/V:C/RE:M/U:Red

Sources: NVD · CVE.org · EPSS