Medium

Yamcs's WebSocket subscription handlers omit the privilege checks their REST siblings enforce

  • Disclosed: 28.08.2026
  • Updated: 11.10.2026 12:22

Asset / scope: Yamcs 5.12.7 WebSocket topics (packets, algorithm-status, mdb-changes)

Summary

Several WebSocket subscription handlers do not perform the privilege check that their REST counterparts enforce, so a principal subscribing over WebSocket receives data the REST API would have scoped or denied.

Root cause

  • packets (PacketsApi.subscribePackets) performs no ReadPacket check, while the REST siblings do (listPackets:128, streamPackets:256, subscribeContainers:538). A principal with a narrow ReadPacket scope receives the raw binary of all TM packets on the processor.
  • algorithm-status (ProcessingApi.subscribeAlgorithmStatus) performs no check, while REST getAlgorithmStatus enforces checkObjectPrivileges(ReadAlgorithm, ...) (:467).
  • mdb-changes (MdbOverrideApi.subscribeMdbChanges) performs no check, while base MDB reads require GetMissionDatabase.

Remediation

Bring each WebSocket subscription handler to parity with its REST sibling's privilege check (ReadPacket, ReadAlgorithm, GetMissionDatabase). This is the same declarative fail-closed fix as Report 1.

Supporting material

Subsystem source audit of the WS-vs-REST authorization parity. Available on request.

--

Disclosure and credit

This was found by Cipher / Causal Security - https://causalsecurity.com/. We are coordinating disclosure via this report and request CVEs where you agree they qualify. We propose the 90-day window stated in your security policy. We might publish a write-up after a fix and the agreed window.

Affected software

Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.

PlatformPackageVulnerable versionsFixed in
Java / Kotlin (Maven) org.yamcs:yamcs-core < 5.12.8, >= 5.13.0, < 5.13.2 5.12.8, 5.13.2

References

CVSS score 6.5/10
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Weakness (CWE)
CWE-862
Platform
Java / Kotlin (Maven)
Package
org.yamcs:yamcs-core
Disclosed
28.08.2026
Updated
11.10.2026 12:22

Sources and licenses

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-fwww-cp23-7f5g - CC BY 4.0

Vulnerability history: org.yamcs:yamcs-core

All published vulnerabilities of this package (Java / Kotlin (Maven)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.

All (16) in the archive
Total entries
16
First → latest
05.2026 08.2026
Without a fix
0
Exploited in attacks
0

Severity breakdown

  • Critical 6
  • High 2
  • Medium 8

Disclosures per year

  1. 2026: 16
Severity:
  1. Critical · 9.8 CVE-2026-55559 >= 5.13.0, < 5.13.2, < 5.12.8 5.13.2, 5.12.8
  2. High · 7.5 CVE-2026-55552 < 5.12.0 5.12.0
  3. Yamcs's WebSocket subscription handlers omit the privilege checks their REST siblings enforce this entry
    Medium · 6.5 CVE-2026-55545 < 5.12.8, >= 5.13.0, < 5.13.2 5.12.8, 5.13.2
  4. High · 8.8 CVE-2026-55521 >= 5.13.0, < 5.13.2, < 5.12.8 5.13.2, 5.12.8
  5. Critical · 9.1 CVE-2026-55511 >= 5.13.0, < 5.13.2, < 5.12.8 5.13.2, 5.12.8

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