CVE-2026-101916 @grpc/grpc-js: In certain configurations, getAuthContext can return unauthorized certificates as though they were authorized
Attackers can bypass authentication in gRPC JavaScript applications by presenting unauthorized certificates when client certificate requirements are disabled.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-101916?
CVE-2026-101916 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in grpc-node, published on 28 Sep 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
@grpc/grpc-js implements the core functionality of gRPC purely in JavaScript, without a C++ addon. Prior to 1.13.6 and 1.14.5, getAuthContext does not distinguish authorized from unauthorized peer certificates when server credentials set requireClientCertificate to false. When applications use the returned authentication context, they can treat an unauthorized certificate as authorized, causing improper authentication. @grpc/grpc-js-xds can reach this condition when RBAC authentication is enabled in affected configurations. This issue is fixed in version 1.14.5 and 1.13.6.
Weakness: CWE-295
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-101916?
4 open source packages ship an affected version, including @grpc/grpc-js.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
@grpc/grpc-js npm | All versions | 1.13.6 |
@grpc/grpc-js npm | All versions | 1.13.6 |
@grpc/grpc-js npm | From 1.14.0 | 1.14.5 |
@grpc/grpc-js npm | From 1.14.0 | 1.14.5 |
How do I fix CVE-2026-101916?
Upgrade @grpc/grpc-js to a fixed version for your release line: 1.13.6 or 1.14.5.
Upgrade, and rotate credentials and sessions that may have been exposed. More about Authentication bypass.
Is CVE-2026-101916 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-101916 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as CLEANSTART-2026-AS30225, CLEANSTART-2026-GT88240, CLEANSTART-2026-HQ75468, CLEANSTART-2026-LD22017, ECHO-bc2f-c80e-b44d, GHSA-m9gg-hp2v-232j and 16 more.