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CVE-2026-21621
March 05, 2026
Incorrect Authorization vulnerability in hexpm hexpm/hexpm ('Elixir.HexpmWeb.API.OAuthController' module) allows Privilege Escalation. An API key created with read-only permissions (domain: "api", resource: "read") can be escalated to full write access under specific conditions. When exchanging a read-only API key via the OAuth client_credentials grant, the resource qualifier is ignored. The resulting JWT receives the broad "api" scope instead of the expected "api:read" scope. This token is therefore treated as having full API access. If an attacker is able to obtain a victim's read-only API key and a valid 2FA (TOTP) code for the victim account, they can use the incorrectly scoped JWT to create a new full-access API key with unrestricted API permissions that does not expire by default and can perform write operations such as publishing, retiring, or modifying packages. This vulnerability is associated with program files lib/hexpm_web/controllers/api/oauth_controller.ex and program routines 'Elixir.HexpmWeb.API.OAuthController':validate_scopes_against_key/2. This issue affects hexpm: from 71829cb6f6559bcceb1ef4e43a2fb8cdd3af654b before 71c127afebb7ed7cc637eb231b98feb802d62999.
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CVSS v4
Base Score:
7
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
LOW
Attack Requirements
PRESENT
Privileges Required
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Vulnerable System Confidentiality
NONE
Vulnerable System Integrity
HIGH
Vulnerable System Availability
LOW
Subsequent System Confidentiality
NONE
Subsequent System Integrity
HIGH
Subsequent System Availability
NONE
CVSS v3
Base Score:
8.5
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
LOW
Privileges Required
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
CHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
LOW
Weakness Type (CWE)
Incorrect Authorization
EPSS
Base Score:
0.03