# CVE-2026-35441: Directus resource exhaustion via GraphQL alias amplification

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-35441-directus-resource-exhaustion-via-graphql-alias-amplification  
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-2026-35441 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.5 · Published 2026-04-06

Directus is an open-source data platform used to manage SQL database content through an API and dashboard. A vulnerability in its GraphQL interface allows an authenticated user to overwhelm the system by sending a single request that triggers many complex database operations simultaneously. This can lead to significant performance slowdowns or a complete service outage, preventing legitimate users from accessing the platform.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-35441 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-35441 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-35441?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.5, 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-2026-35441?** 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-2026-35441 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-35441?** 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 GraphQL endpoints (/graphql and /graphql/system) fail to deduplicate resolver invocations within a single request. An authenticated attacker can use GraphQL aliasing to repeat expensive relational queries multiple times in one request, bypassing existing token and depth limits which are applied per alias rather than per request. Because rate limiting is disabled by default, this results in linear multiplication of database load, leading to CPU, memory, and I/O exhaustion. The vulnerability is rooted in CWE-400 and CWE-770 and is resolved in version 11.17.0 by implementing a request-scoped resolver deduplication mechanism.

## Affected products

- Directus Directus < 11.17.0

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-35441
- GHSA-ph52-67fq-75wj

## Timeline

- 2026-04-02: advisory: Vendor advisory published on GitHub
- 2026-04-06: disclosed: CVE published

## References

- [https://github.com/directus/directus/security/advisories/GHSA-ph52-67fq-75wj](https://github.com/directus/directus/security/advisories/GHSA-ph52-67fq-75wj)

## Related threats

- [Directus authorization bypass via unsegmented response cache key](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-61836-directus-authorization-bypass-via-unsegmented-response-cache-key)
- [Directus SSRF bypass in file import via 0.0.0.0 address](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-61835-directus-ssrf-bypass-in-file-import-via-0-0-0-0-address)
- [Directus sensitive information disclosure via aggregate queries](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-35442-directus-sensitive-information-disclosure-via-aggregate-queries)
- [Directus GraphQL introspection bypass in system endpoint](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-35413-directus-graphql-introspection-bypass-in-system-endpoint)
- [Directus authorization bypass in TUS resumable upload endpoint](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-35412-directus-authorization-bypass-in-tus-resumable-upload-endpoint)