# CVE-2026-7722: Prefect authentication bypass in Health Check API

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-7722-prefect-authentication-bypass-in-health-check-api  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-05-04. Updated: 2026-05-22  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-7722 · Severity: medium · CVSS 5.3 · Published 2026-05-04

Prefect is an orchestration tool used to manage and monitor data workflows. A security flaw in its health check interface could allow an unauthorized person to bypass authentication checks. This could lead to the exposure of internal system status or other sensitive operational information.

Technologies: [prefect (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/prefect). Vendors: [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-7722 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-7722 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-7722?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 5.3, published 4 May 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** prefect (PyPI) < 3.6.22, ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=3.6.22.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-7722?** Yes. prefect (PyPI): upgrade to 3.6.22 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-7722 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-7722?** Check whether you run prefect (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

- prefect (PyPI): upgrade to 3.6.22 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "prefect>=3.6.22"
  ```


## Technical details

An authentication bypass vulnerability exists in Prefect versions prior to 3.6.22 due to an improper implementation of health check exemptions. The vulnerability is located in the `/api/health` component, specifically involving the `endswith()` function used to identify exempt paths. An attacker can manipulate requests to satisfy this string comparison, allowing them to bypass authentication requirements. This is a remote, unauthenticated attack that can result in unauthorized access to health check data. The issue is addressed in version 3.6.22.

## Affected products

- PrefectHQ prefect < 3.6.22

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-7722
- GHSA-6rr6-v7cj-mxpg
- PYSEC-2026-2956

## Timeline

- 2026-05-04: advisory
- 2026-05-04: disclosed
- 2026-05-22: patched

## References

- [https://api.github.com/users/nedlir](https://api.github.com/users/nedlir)
- [https://github.com/nedlir](https://github.com/nedlir)
- [https://api.github.com/users/nedlir/gists%7B/gist_id%7D](https://api.github.com/users/nedlir/gists%7B/gist_id%7D)
- [https://api.github.com/users/nedlir/repos](https://api.github.com/users/nedlir/repos)
- [https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/66902031?v=4](https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/66902031?v=4)
- [https://api.github.com/users/nedlir/events%7B/privacy%7D](https://api.github.com/users/nedlir/events%7B/privacy%7D)

## Related threats

- [PYSEC-2026-1800 - Prefect CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) misconfiguration](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2024-8183-prefect-cors-cross-origin-resource-sharing-misconfiguration)
- [PYSEC-2026-1799 - Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerability in Prefect](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2023-6022-cross-site-request-forgery-vulnerability-in-prefect)
- [Prefect remote code execution in GitRepository storage class](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-5366-prefect-remote-code-execution-in-gitrepository-storage-class)
- [Prefect authentication bypass via health check path exemption](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-3514-prefect-authentication-bypass-via-health-check-path-exemption)
- [Prefect prefect-github argument injection in GitHubRepository](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-3515-prefect-prefect-github-argument-injection-in-githubrepository)