# CVE-2026-45344: LinkAce: Setup database password newline injection enables pre-auth RCE on uninitialized instances

> Remote attackers can achieve code execution on uninitialized LinkAce instances by injecting mail configuration variables into the database setup flow.

- **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 28 May 2026
- **Updated:** 1 Jun 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-37m5-936h-w455

## What is CVE-2026-45344?

CVE-2026-45344 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Kovah LinkAce, published on 28 May 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

LinkAce is a self-hosted archive to collect website links. Prior to 2.5.6, the setup database configuration flow on uninitialized LinkAce instances accepts attacker-controlled database credential fields and writes them back into .env without escaping. A remote attacker who can reach the setup endpoints and supply a database they control can inject mail configuration variables and achieve command execution when the application later sends mail. This vulnerability is fixed in 2.5.6.

Weakness: CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-45344?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-45344?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-45344 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-45344 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-45344 exists.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-45344 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-45344 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Kovah LinkAce, published on 28 May 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-2026-45344 exists.

Affected product: Kovah LinkAce. 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-2026-45344/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-45344/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-45344
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-45344
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-45344

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-45344/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.