# CVE-2026-45013: Apostrophe has a Weak Password Recovery Mechanism for Forgotten Password and Improper Input Validation

> An attacker can hijack password reset links by manipulating the Host header, leading to account takeover if the victim clicks the malicious link.

- **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 12 Jun 2026
- **Updated:** 13 Jun 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-gf43-24g3-5hw2

## What is CVE-2026-45013?

CVE-2026-45013 is a high-severity vulnerability in apostrophecms apostrophe, published on 12 Jun 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

ApostropheCMS is an open-source Node.js content management system. Versions up to and including 4.29.0 have a password reset flow that constructs the reset URL using `req.hostname`, which is derived directly from the attacker-controlled HTTP `Host` header when `apos.baseUrl` is not explicitly configured. An unauthenticated attacker who knows a victim's email address can send a crafted reset request that causes the application to email the victim a reset link pointing to the attacker's domain. When the victim clicks the link, the valid reset token is delivered to the attacker, enabling full account takeover. As of time of publication, no known patched versions are available.

Weakness: CWE-640 (Weak Password Recovery Mechanism for Forgotten Password), CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-45013?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including apostrophe.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `apostrophe` | npm | All versions to 4.29.0 | None |
| `apostrophe` | npm | All versions to 4.29.0 | None |

## How do I fix CVE-2026-45013?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-45013 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-45013 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-45013 exists.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-45013 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-45013 is a high-severity vulnerability in apostrophecms apostrophe, published on 12 Jun 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-45013 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- apostrophe (npm): affected all versions up to 4.29.0; no fix listed
- apostrophe (npm): affected all versions up to 4.29.0; no fix listed

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-2026-45013/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-45013/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-45013
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-45013
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-45013

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-45013/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.