Vantage6: Set admin user and password from environment or configuration
Impact
Vantage6 currently provides an initial user with username root and password root. This is not ideal for the following reasons:
- Attackers know that almost all vantage6 servers have a user with username
rootthat probably has admin rights - The initial password is very weak and it is possible that administrators forget to reset it.
Patches
No
Workarounds
It is possible to delete the root user after it has been used to create other users
References
We could consider doing this like mongodb
Additional info
Luis uses the following patch to mitigate it:
diff --git a/vantage6-server/vantage6/server/__init__.py b/vantage6-server/vantage6/server/__init__.py
index ea362c1e..c6dcbbd9 100644
--- a/vantage6-server/vantage6/server/__init__.py
+++ b/vantage6-server/vantage6/server/__init__.py
@@ -618,18 +618,30 @@ class ServerApp:
# TODO use constant instead of 'Root' literal
root = db.Role.get_by_name("Root")
- log.warn(
- f"Creating root user: "
- f"username={SUPER_USER_INFO['username']}, "
- f"password={SUPER_USER_INFO['password']}"
- )
+ # Temporary patch
+ # read initial root password from file (docker secret) if provided
+ # TODO: This is a workaround so we don't have an insecure vserver
+ # at the start. Ideally, we would provide an already hashed
+ # password. But as hashing is implemented via @validates on
+ # the field 'password', there isn't a nice way around this.
+ if os.environ.get("V6_INITIAL_ROOT_PASSWORD_FILE"):
+ with open(
+ os.environ.get("V6_INITIAL_ROOT_PASSWORD_FILE")
+ ) as password_file:
+ initial_root_password = password_file.read().strip()
+ log.info(
+ f"Creating root user with password provided via V6_INITIAL_ROOT_PASSWORD_FILE"
+ )
+ else:
+ initial_root_password = SUPER_USER_INFO["password"]
+ log.warn(f"Creating root user with default credentials!")
user = db.User(
username=SUPER_USER_INFO["username"],
roles=[root],
organization=org,
email="root@domain.ext",
- password=SUPER_USER_INFO["password"],
+ password=initial_root_password,
failed_login_attempts=0,
last_login_attempt=None,
)
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python (PyPI) | vantage6 | < 5.0.0 | 5.0.0 |
References
- https://github.com/vantage6/vantage6/security/advisories/GHSA-fgmc-2hqj-86v4
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-54445
- https://github.com/vantage6/vantage6/issues/1932
- https://github.com/vantage6/vantage6
- https://github.com/vantage6/vantage6/blob/main/docs/release_notes.rst#500
- https://pypi.org/project/vantage6
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-fgmc-2hqj-86v4
- CVSS vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-1393, CWE-204- Platform
- Python (PyPI)
- Package
vantage6- Disclosed
- 05.06.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 14:18
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2026-3400 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-fgmc-2hqj-86v4 - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: vantage6
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Python (PyPI)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 20
- First → latest
- 02.2023 07.2026
- Without a fix
- 1
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- High 5
- Medium 9
- Low 6
Disclosures per year
- 2023: 7
- 2024: 7
- 2025: 1
- 2026: 5
-
Vantage6: Set admin user and password from environment or configuration this entry
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