CVE-2026-86543: Missing Authentication for Critical Function in knowns-dev knowns
Description
knowns versions before 0.30.0 serve the management API without authentication on all network interfaces by default, with no password required on fresh installations. Attackers can access the unauthenticated /api/tunnel/start endpoint to provision a public tunnel and republish the API at a publicly accessible address.
CVSS v4.0
Score 9.3critical
Affected software
knowns-dev
knowns
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AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-86543 describes a missing authentication vulnerability in knowns versions before 0.30.0. The management API is served on all network interfaces without requiring any password or authentication on fresh installations. This allows attackers to access the unauthenticated /api/tunnel/start endpoint, enabling them to provision a public tunnel and republish the API at a publicly accessible address, potentially exposing sensitive management functions.
Potential Impact
The vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to access critical management API functions, including the ability to create public tunnels that expose the API externally. This can lead to unauthorized control or manipulation of the affected system, posing a high risk to confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Mitigation Recommendations
A fix is available in knowns version 0.30.0 and later. Users should upgrade to version 0.30.0 or newer to ensure the management API requires authentication and is not exposed without access controls. Until upgraded, restricting network access to the management API interfaces can reduce exposure.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- VulnCheck
- Date Reserved
- 2026-09-07T22:18:53.235Z
- Cvss Version
- 4.0
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 6a9f43bfacd9273b497857de
Added to database: 09/07/2026, 23:07:43 UTC
Last enriched: 09/25/2026, 02:48:34 UTC
Last updated: 10/22/2026, 13:15:24 UTC
Views: 159
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