Vulnerability-Lookup

GHSA-Q4VM-PQ3Q-8WGQ

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-07-14 20:17 – Updated: 2026-07-14 20:17

Summary

nebula-mesh: Operator session tokens stored in plaintext in the database

Details

Impact

Operator session tokens are stored in plaintext in the operator_sessions table (the token column is the PRIMARY KEY). The session token is a 32-byte random hex value sent directly in a cookie and valid for 24 hours.

internal/models/operator.go:61 — OperatorSession.Token holds the plaintext token.
internal/store/sqlite_operators.go:590 — CreateOperatorSession inserts sess.Token verbatim.
internal/store/sqlite_operators.go:603,642,681,698 — lookups/updates/deletes use WHERE token = ? against the plaintext value.

Anyone who can read the database (backup, snapshot, file copy, or SQL-level disclosure) obtains every active session token and can hijack operator sessions directly, with no further authentication.

This is functionally identical to the plaintext enrollment-token issue fixed in GHSA-ghmh-jhmj-wcmf. API keys (OperatorAPIKey.KeyHash) and enrollment tokens (EnrollmentToken.TokenHash) already store only a SHA256 hash; session tokens were missed.

Patches

Store only a SHA256 hash of the session token, mirroring API keys and enrollment tokens: 1. Add a HashSessionToken helper (alongside the existing token-hash helpers). 2. Migration to add a token_hash column. 3. Update CreateOperatorSession, PromoteOperatorSession, and GetOperatorBySession to write/look up by hash. 4. Drop the plaintext token column in a follow-up migration.

Sessions are ephemeral (24h TTL), so all active sessions can be invalidated on deployment — no backward compatibility needed.

Workarounds

Restrict and encrypt database backups; rotate the operator database. These mitigate exposure but do not fix the underlying storage of plaintext tokens.

Resources

internal/models/operator.go:58-66
internal/store/sqlite_operators.go:577-698
Migration 005_operators.up.sql:27
Prior related advisory: GHSA-ghmh-jhmj-wcmf

Severity

7.1 (High)


                  
                    CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Show details on source website

JSON

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{
  "affected": [
    {
      "database_specific": {
        "last_known_affected_version_range": "\u003c= 0.3.7"
      },
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Go",
        "name": "github.com/forgekeep/nebula-mesh"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "0.3.8"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2026-53603"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-312",
      "CWE-522"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2026-07-14T20:17:04Z",
    "nvd_published_at": null,
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "## Impact\n\nOperator session tokens are stored in plaintext in the `operator_sessions` table (the `token` column is the PRIMARY KEY). The session token is a 32-byte random hex value sent directly in a cookie and valid for 24 hours.\n\n- `internal/models/operator.go:61` \u2014 `OperatorSession.Token` holds the plaintext token.\n- `internal/store/sqlite_operators.go:590` \u2014 `CreateOperatorSession` inserts `sess.Token` verbatim.\n- `internal/store/sqlite_operators.go:603,642,681,698` \u2014 lookups/updates/deletes use `WHERE token = ?` against the plaintext value.\n\nAnyone who can read the database (backup, snapshot, file copy, or SQL-level disclosure) obtains every active session token and can hijack operator sessions directly, with no further authentication.\n\nThis is functionally identical to the plaintext enrollment-token issue fixed in GHSA-ghmh-jhmj-wcmf. API keys (`OperatorAPIKey.KeyHash`) and enrollment tokens (`EnrollmentToken.TokenHash`) already store only a SHA256 hash; session tokens were missed.\n\n## Patches\n\nStore only a SHA256 hash of the session token, mirroring API keys and enrollment tokens:\n1. Add a `HashSessionToken` helper (alongside the existing token-hash helpers).\n2. Migration to add a `token_hash` column.\n3. Update `CreateOperatorSession`, `PromoteOperatorSession`, and `GetOperatorBySession` to write/look up by hash.\n4. Drop the plaintext `token` column in a follow-up migration.\n\nSessions are ephemeral (24h TTL), so all active sessions can be invalidated on deployment \u2014 no backward compatibility needed.\n\n## Workarounds\n\nRestrict and encrypt database backups; rotate the operator database. These mitigate exposure but do not fix the underlying storage of plaintext tokens.\n\n## Resources\n\n- `internal/models/operator.go:58-66`\n- `internal/store/sqlite_operators.go:577-698`\n- Migration `005_operators.up.sql:27`\n- Prior related advisory: GHSA-ghmh-jhmj-wcmf",
  "id": "GHSA-q4vm-pq3q-8wgq",
  "modified": "2026-07-14T20:17:04Z",
  "published": "2026-07-14T20:17:04Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/forgekeep/nebula-mesh/security/advisories/GHSA-q4vm-pq3q-8wgq"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/forgekeep/nebula-mesh/commit/7cb01bab281ded557f8b6c81dab5f48d4c10182e"
    },
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://github.com/forgekeep/nebula-mesh"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/forgekeep/nebula-mesh/releases/tag/v0.3.8"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V4"
    }
  ],
  "summary": "nebula-mesh: Operator session tokens stored in plaintext in the database"
}

CVE-2026-53603 (GCVE-0-2026-53603)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-09-04 19:40 – Updated: 2026-09-08 17:49

Title

nebula-mesh: Operator session tokens stored in plaintext in the database

Summary

nebula-mesh is a self-hosted control plane for Slack Nebula mesh VPN. Prior to version 0.3.8, Operator session tokens are stored in plaintext in the operator_sessions table (the token column is the PRIMARY KEY). The session token is a 32-byte random hex value sent directly in a cookie and valid for 24 hours. Anyone who can read the database (backup, snapshot, file copy, or SQL-level disclosure) obtains every active session token and can hijack operator sessions directly, with no further authentication. This issue has been patched in version 0.3.8.

Severity

7.1 (High)


                        
                          CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

SSVC

Exploitation: none Automatable: yes Technical Impact: partial

CISA Coordinator · CISA-ADP (v2.0.3)

Decision recorded 2026-09-08 17:48 UTC

CWE

CWE-312 - Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information
CWE-522 - Insufficiently Protected Credentials

Assigner

GitHub_M mitre root Scorecard

References

3 references

URL	Tags
https://github.com/forgekeep/nebula-mesh/security…	x_refsource_CONFIRM
https://github.com/forgekeep/nebula-mesh/commit/7…	x_refsource_MISC
https://github.com/forgekeep/nebula-mesh/releases…	x_refsource_MISC

Impacted products

1 product

Vendor	Product	Version
forgekeep	nebula-mesh	Affected: < 0.3.8

Show details on NVD website

JSON

To clipboard

{
  "containers": {
    "adp": [
      {
        "metrics": [
          {
            "other": {
              "content": {
                "id": "CVE-2026-53603",
                "options": [
                  {
                    "Exploitation": "none"
                  },
                  {
                    "Automatable": "yes"
                  },
                  {
                    "Technical Impact": "partial"
                  }
                ],
                "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                "timestamp": "2026-09-08T17:48:58.655747Z",
                "version": "2.0.3"
              },
              "type": "ssvc"
            }
          }
        ],
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2026-09-08T17:49:14.966Z",
          "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
          "shortName": "CISA-ADP"
        },
        "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
      }
    ],
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "product": "nebula-mesh",
          "vendor": "forgekeep",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "\u003c 0.3.8"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "nebula-mesh is a self-hosted control plane for Slack Nebula mesh VPN. Prior to version 0.3.8, Operator session tokens are stored in plaintext in the operator_sessions table (the token column is the PRIMARY KEY). The session token is a 32-byte random hex value sent directly in a cookie and valid for 24 hours. Anyone who can read the database (backup, snapshot, file copy, or SQL-level disclosure) obtains every active session token and can hijack operator sessions directly, with no further authentication. This issue has been patched in version 0.3.8."
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV4_0": {
            "attackComplexity": "LOW",
            "attackRequirements": "NONE",
            "attackVector": "NETWORK",
            "baseScore": 7.1,
            "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
            "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
            "subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
            "subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
            "subIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
            "userInteraction": "NONE",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N",
            "version": "4.0",
            "vulnAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
            "vulnConfidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
            "vulnIntegrityImpact": "NONE"
          }
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "cweId": "CWE-312",
              "description": "CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "cweId": "CWE-522",
              "description": "CWE-522: Insufficiently Protected Credentials",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-09-04T19:40:31.548Z",
        "orgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
        "shortName": "GitHub_M"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/forgekeep/nebula-mesh/security/advisories/GHSA-q4vm-pq3q-8wgq",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_CONFIRM"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/forgekeep/nebula-mesh/security/advisories/GHSA-q4vm-pq3q-8wgq"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/forgekeep/nebula-mesh/commit/7cb01bab281ded557f8b6c81dab5f48d4c10182e",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/forgekeep/nebula-mesh/commit/7cb01bab281ded557f8b6c81dab5f48d4c10182e"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/forgekeep/nebula-mesh/releases/tag/v0.3.8",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/forgekeep/nebula-mesh/releases/tag/v0.3.8"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "advisory": "GHSA-q4vm-pq3q-8wgq",
        "discovery": "UNKNOWN"
      },
      "title": "nebula-mesh: Operator session tokens stored in plaintext in the database"
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
    "assignerShortName": "GitHub_M",
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-53603",
    "datePublished": "2026-09-04T19:40:31.548Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-06-09T19:39:52.404Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-09-08T17:49:14.966Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2"
}

Sightings

Author	Source	Type	Date	Other

Nomenclature

Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.

The MITRE ATT&CK techniques below are AI-generated suggestions, inferred from the description of the vulnerability by the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-classification-roberta-base model, served locally by ML-Gateway. They have not been verified by an analyst and are provided for guidance only.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.

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