# CVE-2023-40027: Keystone @keystone-6/core unauthorized adminMeta GraphQL access

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2023-40027-keystone-keystone-6-core-unauthorized-adminmeta-graphql-access  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2023-08-15. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2023-40027 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.1 · Published 2023-08-15

Keystone is a Node.js-based headless CMS and GraphQL API platform. A configuration flaw allows the adminMeta GraphQL query to be publicly accessible without authentication when ui.isAccessAllowed is not explicitly defined, exposing administrative metadata to unauthorized users.

Technologies: [@keystone-6/core (npm)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/keystone-6-core). Vendors: [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2023-40027 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2023-40027 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2023-40027?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 15 August 2023.

**Which products and versions are affected?** @keystone-6/core (npm) SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=5.5.1.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2023-40027?** Yes. @keystone-6/core (npm): upgrade to 5.5.1 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2023-40027 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2023-40027?** Check whether you run @keystone-6/core (npm) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- @keystone-6/core (npm): upgrade to 5.5.1 or later

  ```sh
  npm install @keystone-6/core@5.5.1
  ```


## Technical details

This is an authorization bypass (CWE-862) in the adminMeta GraphQL query handler. When the ui.isAccessAllowed configuration option is undefined (not set by the developer), the query defaults to public access instead of inheriting the session strategy's default behavior. The vulnerability requires no authentication or user interaction and is reachable over the network. An attacker can query adminMeta to retrieve administrative metadata. The vulnerability is fixed in @keystone-6/core version 5.5.1 and later; developers can also implement a custom isAccessAllowed function as a workaround.

## Affected products

- Keystone @keystone-6/core <5.5.1

## Identifiers

- CVE-2023-40027
- GHSA-9cvc-v7wm-992c

## Timeline

- 2023-08-15: disclosed
- 2023-08-15: patched: Fixed in version 5.5.1

## References

- [https://github.com/keystonejs/keystone/security/advisories/GHSA-9cvc-v7wm-992c](https://github.com/keystonejs/keystone/security/advisories/GHSA-9cvc-v7wm-992c)

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