# CVE-2024-8196: Missing Authentication for Critical Function in mintplex-labs/anything-llm

> Attackers can access the backend and delete workspace data because the desktop application binds to all interfaces without authentication.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 20 Mar 2025
- **Updated:** 20 Mar 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-2mv8-c3hx-xq6v

## What is CVE-2024-8196?

CVE-2024-8196 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in mintplex-labs/anything-llm, published on 20 Mar 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In mintplex-labs/anything-llm v1.5.11 desktop version for Windows, the application opens server port 3001 on 0.0.0.0 with no authentication by default. This vulnerability allows an attacker to gain full backend access, enabling them to perform actions such as deleting all data from the workspace.

Weakness: CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-8196?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Mintplexlabs Anythingllm Desktop.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-8196?

No fix has been published for CVE-2024-8196 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2024-8196 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2024-8196 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in mintplex-labs/anything-llm

- [CVE-2024-3166](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-3166/): Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Vulnerability in mintplex-labs/anything-llm (low 3.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-8196 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-8196 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in mintplex-labs/anything-llm, published on 20 Mar 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2024-8196 exists.

Affected product: mintplex-labs/anything-llm. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-8196/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-8196/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-8196
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-8196
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-8196

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-8196/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.