CVE-2026-34736 Open edX Platform: Account Activation Bypass via activation_key Exposure in REST API
Unauthenticated attackers can bypass email verification and take over accounts by exploiting exposed activation keys and OAuth2 token issuance flaws in Open edX.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2026-34736?
CVE-2026-34736 is a medium-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in openedx-platform, published on 2 Apr 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
Open edX Platform enables the authoring and delivery of online learning at any scale. From the maple release to before the ulmo release, an unauthenticated attacker can fully bypass the email verification process by combining two issues: the OAuth2 password grant issuing tokens to inactive users (documented behavior) and the activation_key being exposed in the REST API response at /api/user/v1/accounts/. This issue has been patched in the ulmo release.
Weakness: CWE-287
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-34736?
How do I fix CVE-2026-34736?
No fix has been published for CVE-2026-34736 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade, and rotate credentials and sessions that may have been exposed. More about Authentication bypass.
Is CVE-2026-34736 being exploited?
It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-34736 exists.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-m6rg-rp98-4crw.