# CVE-2026-86858: Unauthenticated Privilege Escalation via GraphQL in ServiceNow AI Platform

> Unauthenticated attackers can create, modify, or delete instance data via GraphQL due to improper access control in ServiceNow AI Platform.

- **Severity:** High 8.7 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 24 Sep 2026
- **Updated:** 24 Sep 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-g4fh-c3m5-g3pg

## What is CVE-2026-86858?

CVE-2026-86858 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in ServiceNow AI Platform, published on 24 Sep 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

ServiceNow has remediated an improper access control security issue that was identified in the ServiceNow AI Platform. This security issue could enable an unauthenticated user, in certain circumstances, to create, modify, or delete instance data beyond what was intended.

In August 2026, ServiceNow deployed a security update to hosted instances and ServiceNow provided the update to our partners and self-hosted customers. We are not currently aware of malicious exploitation against ServiceNow instances. We recommend customers promptly apply appropriate updates or upgrade to a patched release if they have not already done so.

Weakness: CWE-284 (Improper Access Control)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-86858?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-86858?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-86858 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-86858 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-86858 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-86858 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-86858 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in ServiceNow AI Platform, published on 24 Sep 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-86858 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: ServiceNow AI Platform. 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-2026-86858/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-86858/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-86858
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-86858
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-86858

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-86858/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.