# CVE-2026-27960: OpenCTI privilege escalation and authentication bypass in API

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-27960-opencti-privilege-escalation-and-authentication-bypass-in-api  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-05-05. Updated: 2026-07-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-27960 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.8 · Published 2026-05-05

OpenCTI is a platform used by organizations to manage and analyze cyber threat intelligence data. A critical security flaw allows unauthorized individuals to bypass authentication and access the system's API with the permissions of any user, including administrators. This could lead to the complete exposure of sensitive threat data, unauthorized modification of intelligence records, or full system takeover.

Technologies: [Citeum Opencti](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/opencti), [pycti (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/pycti). Vendors: [Citeum](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/citeum), [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-27960 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-27960 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-27960?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.8, published 5 May 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** pycti (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=6.9.0,fixed=6.9.13.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-27960?** Yes. pycti (PyPI): upgrade to 6.9.13 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-27960 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-27960?** Check whether you run Citeum Opencti or pycti (PyPI) 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

- pycti (PyPI): upgrade to 6.9.13 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "pycti>=6.9.13"
  ```


## Technical details

A privilege escalation vulnerability (CWE-287) exists in OpenCTI versions 6.6.0 through 6.9.12 due to improper authentication checks. An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit this flaw to perform API queries while impersonating any valid user account, including the default administrator. The attack requires no user interaction and has low complexity. Successful exploitation results in a total loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The issue is resolved in version 6.9.13; a partial workaround involves disabling the default admin account via the APP__ADMIN__EXTERNALLY_MANAGED configuration.

## Affected products

- OpenCTI-Platform OpenCTI 6.6.0 to 6.9.12

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-27960
- PYSEC-2026-119

## Timeline

- 2026-05-04: advisory: GitHub Security Advisory published
- 2026-05-05: disclosed: CVE published to NVD

## References

- [https://github.com/OpenCTI-Platform/opencti/security/advisories/GHSA-6vvv-vmfr-xhrx](https://github.com/OpenCTI-Platform/opencti/security/advisories/GHSA-6vvv-vmfr-xhrx)

## Related threats

- [Filigran OpenCTI Code Injection in GraphQL API](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-35211-filigran-opencti-code-injection-in-graphql-api)
- [Filigran OpenCTI authorization bypass via synchronized-upsert header](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-35210-filigran-opencti-authorization-bypass-via-synchronized-upsert)
- [OpenCTI SSRF in Data Ingestion Feature](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-21887-opencti-ssrf-in-data-ingestion-feature)
- [OpenCTI GraphQL introspection restriction bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2024-37155-opencti-graphql-introspection-restriction-bypass)
- [OpenCTI XSS in email-message observable body rendering](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-35212-opencti-xss-in-email-message-observable-body-rendering)