# CVE-2026-31881: Runtipi unauthenticated /api/auth/reset-password allows operator account takeover during active reset window

> Unauthenticated attackers can reset the admin password during an active reset window, leading to full operator account takeover.

- **Severity:** High 7.7 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 11 Mar 2026
- **Updated:** 12 Mar 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-96fm-whrc-cwg3

## What is CVE-2026-31881?

CVE-2026-31881 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in runtipi, published on 11 Mar 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Runtipi is a personal homeserver orchestrator. Prior to 4.8.0, an unauthenticated attacker can reset the operator (admin) password when a password-reset request is active, resulting in full account takeover. The endpoint POST /api/auth/reset-password is exposed without authentication/authorization checks. During the 15-minute reset window, any remote user can set a new operator password and log in as admin. This vulnerability is fixed in 4.8.0.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-31881?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Runtipi Runtipi.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-31881?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-31881 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-31881 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-31881 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in runtipi

- [CVE-2026-32729](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-32729/): Runtipi has a TOTP two-factor authentication bypass via unrestricted brute-force on `/api/auth/verify-totp` (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2026-24129](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24129/): Runtipi is Vulnerable to Authenticated Arbitrary Remote Code Execution (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2026-25116](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-25116/): Runtipi vulnerable to unauthenticated docker-compose.yml Overwrite via Path Traversal (high 7.6)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-31881 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-31881 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in runtipi, published on 11 Mar 2026. 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-2026-31881 exists.

Affected product: runtipi. 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-2026-31881/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-31881/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-31881
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-31881
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-31881

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-31881/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.