# CVE-2026-102478: Octopus Server privilege escalation via unsafe role equivalence

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-102478-in-affected-versions-of-octopus-server-an-authenticated-user  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-07. Updated: 2026-10-07  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-102478 · Severity: info · Published 2026-10-07

Octopus Server is a deployment automation platform used to manage software releases across infrastructure. An authenticated user with role-management permissions could exploit improper input validation to weaken built-in roles and add their account to privileged teams, gaining unauthorized administrative access. This vulnerability allows privilege escalation from a standard user to administrator, potentially compromising the entire deployment pipeline and infrastructure.

Technologies: [Octopus Deploy Octopus Server](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/octopus-server). Vendors: [Octopus Deploy](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/octopus-deploy).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-102478 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-102478 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-102478?** Informational severity, published 7 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Octopus Deploy Octopus Server 2023.2.945+, 2023.3.x, 2023.4.x, 2024.x, 2025.x, 2026.1.x before 2026.1.11768, 2026.2.x before 2026.2.13408, 2026.3.x before 2026.3.15816, 2026.4.x before 2026.4.1480.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-102478?** Yes: fixed in Octopus Server 2026.1.11768, 2026.2.13408, 2026.3.15816, or later (2026.4.x patched automatically on Octopus Cloud). Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-102478 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a web application.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-102478?** Check whether you run Octopus Deploy Octopus Server 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

- Fixed in Octopus Server 2026.1.11768, 2026.2.13408, 2026.3.15816, or later (2026.4.x patched automatically on Octopus Cloud)

## Technical details

The vulnerability stems from improper validation of unsafe equivalence in role input validation, allowing authenticated users with role modification permissions to bypass access controls. An attacker can exploit this to downgrade built-in roles and elevate their own account to privileged teams, achieving privilege escalation. A fix is available in versions 2026.1.11768, 2026.2.13408, 2026.3.15816, and later.

## Affected products

- Octopus Deploy Octopus Server 2023.2.945+, 2023.3.x, 2023.4.x, 2024.x, 2025.x, 2026.1.x before 2026.1.11768, 2026.2.x before 2026.2.13408, 2026.3.x before 2026.3.15816, 2026.4.x before 2026.4.1480

## Timeline

- 2026-09-30: disclosed: Security Advisory 2026-11 published
- 2026-09-08: patched: Patch release date

## References

- [https://advisories.octopus.com/post/2026/sa2026-11](https://advisories.octopus.com/post/2026/sa2026-11)

## Related threats

- [Octopus Server authorization bypass in LDAP identity editing](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-124628-in-affected-versions-of-octopus-server-incorrect-validation-of)
- [Octopus Server LDAP identity injection leading to privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-124627-in-affected-versions-of-octopus-server-incorrect-validation-of)
- [Octopus Server OIDC claim validation bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-116835-in-affected-versions-of-octopus-server-insufficient-validation)
- [Octopus Server incorrect authorization in project triggers](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-93487-in-affected-versions-of-octopus-server-incorrect-validation-of)
- [Octopus Server privilege escalation in LDAP login editing](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-105948-in-affected-versions-of-octopus-server-incorrect-validation-of)