CVE-2026-102490

Published Sep 30, 2026

Last updated 4 hours ago

Overview

AI description

Automated description summarized from trusted sources.

CVE-2026-102490 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability affecting Zammad, an open-source helpdesk and ticketing system. The flaw is present in all versions of the software, including the latest alpha releases, and allows a local user with access to the `zammad` account to bypass permission checks and escalate their privileges to `root`. This unauthorized access enables the execution of privileged operations, allowing an attacker to modify system files, install software, or access other parts of the host system. The vulnerability was highlighted in reports after being chained with CVE-2026-102489 in an attack against the Dutch Institute for Vulnerability Disclosure (DIVD). In that incident, attackers utilized an autonomous, agentic AI to exploit both flaws, allowing them to hijack sessions, execute code remotely, and escalate privileges to root within seconds. Following evidence of active exploitation in the wild, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added CVE-2026-102490 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring organizations to apply the necessary updates.

Description: All versions of Zammad including the latest alpha enable the local zammad user to escalate privileges to root.
Source: csirt@divd.nl
NVD status: Analyzed
Products: zammad

Risk scores

CVSS 4.0

Type: Secondary
Base score: 9.4
Impact score: -
Exploitability score: -
Vector string: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H/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:X/AU:Y/R:X/V:C/RE:X/U:X
Severity: CRITICAL

CVSS 3.1

Type: Primary
Base score: 9.8
Impact score: 5.9
Exploitability score: 3.9
Vector string: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Severity: CRITICAL

Known exploits

Data from CISA

Vulnerability name: Zammad GmbH Zammad Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability
Exploit added on: Oct 2, 2026
Exploit action due: Oct 5, 2026
Required action: Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines.

Weaknesses

134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0: CWE-269

Hype score is a measure of social media activity compared against trending CVEs from the past 12 months. Max score 100.

Hype score: 7

Configurations

[
  {
    "nodes": [
      {
        "cpeMatch": [
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:zammad:zammad:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "matchCriteriaId": "F35B8C68-B265-4574-BEF5-51FC1CB4DF77",
            "versionEndExcluding": "7.1.0",
            "versionStartIncluding": "1.5.0",
            "vulnerable": true
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:zammad:zammad:7.1.0:alpha:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "matchCriteriaId": "4DD0F01F-638A-4E1E-A53A-F38EF44D196B",
            "vulnerable": true
          }
        ],
        "negate": false,
        "operator": "OR"
      },
      {
        "cpeMatch": [
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:docker:docker:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "matchCriteriaId": "231A8A55-A319-4878-91DA-4FD91CF0549E",
            "vulnerable": false
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "matchCriteriaId": "703AF700-7A70-47E2-BC3A-7FD03B3CA9C1",
            "vulnerable": false
          }
        ],
        "negate": false,
        "operator": "OR"
      }
    ],
    "operator": "AND"
  }
]

References

Sources include official advisories and independent security research.