# CVE-2026-55642: dbx: Unauthenticated arbitrary SQL execution in dbx-web (authentication fails open when no password is configured)

> Unauthenticated attackers can execute arbitrary SQL queries via the web interface when no password is configured, leading to data disclosure or modification.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/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:** 20 Aug 2026
- **Updated:** 20 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rqp4-8fxh-22vh

## What is CVE-2026-55642?

CVE-2026-55642 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in t8y2 dbx, published on 20 Aug 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

dbx is a cross-platform database client for databases. Prior to 0.5.51, dbx-web auth_middleware in crates/dbx-web/src/auth.rs passes every protected request to the handler chain when password_hash is None. A fresh deployment reaches that state when DBX_PASSWORD is unset and no stored password exists, while crates/dbx-web/src/main.rs binds the service to 0.0.0.0 on port 4224 by default. An unauthenticated network attacker can call the /api/connection/connect and /api/query/execute routes to use configured database credentials and execute arbitrary SQL, allowing disclosure, modification, or destruction of data in connected databases. The desktop Tauri application is not affected because it binds only to loopback. This issue is fixed in version 0.5.51.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-55642?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-55642?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-55642 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-55642 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-55642 exists.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-55642 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-55642 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in t8y2 dbx, published on 20 Aug 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-2026-55642 exists.

Affected product: t8y2 dbx. 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-2026-55642/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-55642/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-55642
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-55642
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-55642

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-55642/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.