# CVE-2026-35408: Directus account takeover via missing COOP header in SSO login

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-35408-directus-account-takeover-via-missing-coop-header-in-sso-login  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-04-06. Updated: 2026-07-24  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-35408 · Severity: high · CVSS 8.7 · Published 2026-04-06

Directus is an open-source platform used to manage database content and provide real-time APIs. A security flaw in its login system could allow an attacker to hijack the login process when a user signs in using a third-party service like Google or Discord. This could lead to an attacker gaining access to the user's third-party account or taking over their account within the Directus platform.

Technologies: [directus (npm)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/directus). Vendors: [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-35408 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-35408 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-35408?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.7, published 6 April 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** directus (npm) SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=11.17.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-35408?** Yes. directus (npm): upgrade to 11.17.0 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-35408 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a web application.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-35408?** Check whether you run directus (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

- directus (npm): upgrade to 11.17.0 or later

  ```sh
  npm install directus@11.17.0
  ```


## Technical details

Directus versions prior to 11.17.0 are vulnerable to a cross-origin window manipulation attack because SSO login pages do not implement the Cross-Origin-Opener-Policy (COOP) HTTP response header. When a malicious site opens the Directus login page in a new window or tab, it retains a reference to the window object, allowing it to intercept and redirect the OAuth authorization flow. An attacker can use this to redirect the victim to an attacker-controlled OAuth client, capturing authentication tokens for providers like Google or Discord. This can result in unauthorized access to the identity provider account or full account takeover of the Directus instance. The issue is resolved in version 11.17.0 by the addition of the 'Cross-Origin-Opener-Policy: same-origin' header.

## Affected products

- Directus Directus < 11.17.0

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-35408
- GHSA-8m32-p958-jg99

## Timeline

- 2026-04-02: advisory: GitHub Security Advisory published
- 2026-04-06: disclosed: CVE published to NVD
- 2026-04-06: patched: Fix released in version 11.17.0

## References

- [https://github.com/directus/directus/security/advisories/GHSA-8m32-p958-jg99](https://github.com/directus/directus/security/advisories/GHSA-8m32-p958-jg99)

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