# CVE-2026-40172: goauthentik authentik privilege escalation in User PATCH API

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-40172-goauthentik-authentik-privilege-escalation-in-user-patch-api  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-05-22. Updated: 2026-07-23  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-40172 · Severity: high · CVSS 8.1 · Published 2026-05-22

authentik is an open-source identity provider used to manage user authentication and authorization for organizations. A security flaw allows users with limited administrative permissions to grant themselves or others full administrator (superuser) status. This could lead to an unauthorized takeover of the entire identity management system, allowing an attacker to modify security policies or access sensitive user data.

Technologies: [Goauthentik Authentik](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/authentik). Vendors: [Goauthentik](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/goauthentik).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-40172 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-40172 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-40172?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.1, published 22 May 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Goauthentik Authentik < 2025.12.5, >= 2026.2.0-rc1, < 2026.2.3.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-40172?** A patch was published on 2026-05-12: Versions 2025.12.5 and 2026.2.3 released Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-40172 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-40172?** Check whether you run Goauthentik Authentik 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.

## Technical details

A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the authentik UserSerializer component. The 'PATCH /api/v3/core/users/{pk}/' API endpoint fails to properly enforce the 'enable_group_superuser' requirement when updating user group memberships. An authenticated attacker with 'change_user' permissions can bypass the strict permission model typically enforced in group-management paths. By submitting a crafted PATCH request, the attacker can assign themselves or other users to groups with 'is_superuser=True', effectively gaining full administrative control. The vulnerability is resolved in versions 2025.12.5 and 2026.2.3.

## Affected products

- goauthentik authentik < 2025.12.5, >= 2026.2.0-rc1, < 2026.2.3

## Timeline

- 2026-05-12: patched: Versions 2025.12.5 and 2026.2.3 released
- 2026-05-12: advisory: GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-h6x7-hjjc-wjc9 published
- 2026-05-22: disclosed: CVE-2026-40172 published to NVD

## References

- [https://github.com/goauthentik/authentik/releases/tag/version%2F2025.12.5](https://github.com/goauthentik/authentik/releases/tag/version%2F2025.12.5)
- [https://github.com/goauthentik/authentik/releases/tag/version%2F2026.2.3](https://github.com/goauthentik/authentik/releases/tag/version%2F2026.2.3)
- [https://github.com/goauthentik/authentik/security/advisories/GHSA-h6x7-hjjc-wjc9](https://github.com/goauthentik/authentik/security/advisories/GHSA-h6x7-hjjc-wjc9)

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