# CVE-2026-113374: Sonatype Nexus Repository 3 authorization bypass in Rut Auth capability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113374-sonatype-nexus-repository-3-does-not-require-realm  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-11-04. Updated: 2026-11-04  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-113374 · Severity: info · Published 2026-11-04

Sonatype Nexus Repository is a software component management system used by organizations to store and manage software artifacts. A flaw in permission checking allows a user with basic capability creation rights to enable header-based authentication for the entire system, then impersonate any user including administrators without knowing their passwords. This effectively grants full administrative control to an attacker with minimal starting privileges.

Technologies: [Sonatype Nexus Repository 3](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/nexus-repository-3). Vendors: [Sonatype](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/sonatype).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-113374 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-113374 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-113374?** Informational severity, published 4 November 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Sonatype Nexus Repository 3.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-113374?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-113374 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-113374?** Check whether you run Sonatype Nexus Repository 3. 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.

## Technical details

The vulnerability is a privilege escalation and authentication bypass caused by missing realm administration permission checks when creating a Rut Auth capability. A user holding only the nexus:capabilities:create permission can create this capability to enable header-based authentication, allowing remote unauthenticated clients to forge identity headers and authenticate as existing users including administrators. No user interaction or prior elevated access is required beyond the basic capability creation permission.

## Affected products

- Sonatype Nexus Repository 3

## Timeline

- 2026-11-04: disclosed

## References

- [https://help.sonatype.com/en/sonatype-nexus-repository-3-98-0-release-notes.html](https://help.sonatype.com/en/sonatype-nexus-repository-3-98-0-release-notes.html)
- [https://support.sonatype.com/hc/en-us/articles/56616522124435/](https://support.sonatype.com/hc/en-us/articles/56616522124435/)

## Related threats

- [Sonatype Nexus Repository 3 YUM private key disclosure to read-only accounts](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113372-sonatype-nexus-repository-3-returns-the-private-signing-key-of-a)
- [Sonatype Nexus Repository 3 signing passphrase disclosure in REST endpoint](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113371-sonatype-nexus-repository-3-returns-the-signing-passphrase-of-an)
- [Sonatype Nexus Repository 3 SQL injection in Reindex Search Tables task](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113370-sonatype-nexus-repository-3-contains-a-sql-injection)
- [Sonatype Nexus Repository stored XSS in OCI manifest artifact type](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113369-sonatype-nexus-repository-3-allows-a-user-account-that-can-push)
- [Sonatype Nexus Repository 3 privilege escalation via unauthorized repository access](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113368-sonatype-nexus-repository-3-does-not-check-that-a-user-account)