CVE-2025-8850 identifies a security weakness in the danny-avila/librechat open-source chat application, specifically in version 0.7.9. The flaw is an insecure API design issue categorized under CWE-440 (Expected Behavior Violation). The vulnerability resides in the 2-Factor Authentication (2FA) disable process, where the backend API endpoint '/api/auth/2fa/disable' fails to properly validate the one-time password (OTP) or backup code before allowing 2FA to be disabled. This means that an authenticated user can bypass the intended verification step and disable 2FA on their own account without proving possession of the second factor. While this does not directly lead to account compromise, it significantly reduces the security posture of affected accounts by removing the additional authentication layer. The vulnerability requires the attacker to be authenticated, and no user interaction beyond that is needed. The CVSS 3.0 base score is 3.1, reflecting low severity due to the limited impact on confidentiality and availability, and the requirement for authentication and high attack complexity. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and no official patches or fixes have been released as of the publication date. This issue highlights the importance of enforcing strict validation on security-critical API endpoints, especially those controlling authentication mechanisms.

For European organizations using danny-avila/librechat, this vulnerability poses a risk of weakened account security. Attackers who gain authenticated access to user accounts can disable 2FA without additional verification, increasing the likelihood of subsequent account compromise through credential theft or phishing. This could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive communications and data. Although the vulnerability does not allow immediate full account takeover, it lowers the barrier for attackers to escalate privileges or move laterally within an organization’s communication infrastructure. The impact is more pronounced in sectors requiring strong authentication controls, such as finance, government, and critical infrastructure. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the vulnerability could be targeted in future attacks if left unmitigated. Organizations relying on librechat for secure messaging should consider this a security weakness that undermines multi-factor authentication benefits.

European organizations should immediately audit their deployment of danny-avila/librechat to determine if version 0.7.9 or other vulnerable versions are in use. Until a patch is available, administrators should implement compensating controls such as restricting access to the 2FA disable API endpoint via network-level controls or API gateways. Monitoring and alerting on 2FA disable events can help detect suspicious activity. Enforcing strong password policies and additional authentication layers (e.g., hardware tokens or biometric factors) can reduce risk. User education about the importance of 2FA and recognizing social engineering attempts is critical. Organizations should track updates from the vendor or community for patches addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly. Additionally, consider integrating external identity providers with stronger 2FA enforcement if feasible. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should include validation of 2FA mechanisms to prevent similar design flaws.