CVE-2026-40525 OpenViking < 0.3.9 Authentication Bypass via VikingBot OpenAPI
Remote attackers can bypass authentication in OpenViking VikingBot OpenAPI when API keys are unset, accessing privileged bot functions and sensitive data.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-40525?
CVE-2026-40525 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in volcengine OpenViking, published on 17 Apr 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
OpenViking prior to version 0.3.9 contains an authentication bypass vulnerability in the VikingBot OpenAPI HTTP route surface where the authentication check fails open when the api_key configuration value is unset or empty. Remote attackers with network access to the exposed service can invoke privileged bot-control functionality without providing a valid X-API-Key header, including submitting attacker-controlled prompts, creating or using bot sessions, and accessing downstream tools, integrations, secrets, or data accessible to the bot.
Weakness: CWE-636
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-40525?
3 open source packages ship an affected version, including openviking. It affects 1 product.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
openviking PyPI | All versions | 0.3.9 |
openviking PyPI | All versions | 0.3.9 |
openviking PyPI | All versions | 0.3.9 |
Products include Volcengine Openviking.
How do I fix CVE-2026-40525?
Upgrade openviking to 0.3.9 or later.
Upgrade, and rotate credentials and sessions that may have been exposed. More about Authentication bypass.
Is CVE-2026-40525 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-40525 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in volcengine OpenViking
Sources
Also known as GHSA-jgq2-vq69-gr6h, PYSEC-2026-438.