# CVE-2026-51773: OpenStack glance_store credential leak in VMware datastore driver

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-51773-an-issue-in-the-vmware-datastore-driver-of-openstack-glance-store  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-25. Updated: 2026-09-26  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-51773 · Severity: high · CVSS 8.1 · Published 2026-09-25

OpenStack's image storage service (glance_store) has a flaw in its VMware datastore integration that leaks authentication credentials. An authenticated attacker can craft a malicious image URI pointing to an external server, causing the system to attach sensitive credentials to requests sent to that attacker-controlled server, enabling account compromise and data theft.

Vendors: [OpenStack](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/openstack).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-51773 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-51773 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-51773?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.1, published 25 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** OpenStack Glance Store <UNKNOWN>.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-51773?** 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-2026-51773 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-51773?** Check whether you run OpenStack Glance Store 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

The VMware datastore driver in glance_store fails to validate the destination host in the _retry_request function before attaching authentication headers to outbound requests. An authenticated attacker with the ability to specify image location URIs can exploit this to exfiltrate credentials to an external server via an improper header attachment vulnerability. The attack requires prior authentication but no user interaction.

## Affected products

- OpenStack glance_store <UNKNOWN>

## Timeline

- 2026-09-25: disclosed

## References

- [https://github.com/sadandbset/CVE-2026-51772-CVE-2026-51773](https://github.com/sadandbset/CVE-2026-51772-CVE-2026-51773)
- [https://github.com/sadandbset/CVE-2026-51772-CVE-2026-51773/blob/main/CVE-2026-51773.md](https://github.com/sadandbset/CVE-2026-51772-CVE-2026-51773/blob/main/CVE-2026-51773.md)