CVE-2026-44725 PUBLISHED

EMQX: Stale plugins allow grants amplify a compromised admin/API key to remote code execution

Assigner: GitHub_M
Reserved: 07.05.2026 Published: 20.08.2026 Updated: 20.08.2026

EMQX is a scalable and reliable MQTT broker for AI, IoT, IIoT, and connected vehicles. Prior to versions 5.8.11, 5.9.3, 5.10.4, 6.0.3, 6.1.2, and 6.2.1, the plugin-install REST API and dashboard upload accepted stale grants created with emqx ctl plugins allow because there was no five-minute grant lifetime or SHA-256 package binding. An attacker with a compromised dashboard administrator credential or API key with plugin-install permission who finds a stale allowed name and version can upload attacker-controlled bytes under the allowed .tar.gz filename through POST /api/v5/plugins/install or the dashboard plugin upload. The broker then installs and runs attacker-controlled Erlang code with the privileges of the EMQX process. This issue is fixed in versions 5.8.11, 5.9.3, 5.10.4, 6.0.3, 6.1.2, and 6.2.1.

Metrics

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS Score: 6.6

Product Status

Vendor emqx
Product emqx
Versions
  • Version < 5.8.11 is affected
  • Version >= 5.9.0, < 5.9.3 is affected
  • Version >= 5.10.0, < 5.10.4 is affected
  • Version >= 6.0.0, < 6.0.3 is affected
  • Version >= 6.1.0, < 6.1.2 is affected
  • Version >= 6.2.0, < 6.2.1 is affected

References

Problem Types

  • CWE-345: Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity CWE
  • CWE-672: Operation on a Resource after Expiration or Release CWE