What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-23896?

CVE-2026-23896 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2 (High). CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. EPSS exploitation probability: 0.0%.

Is there a public PoC exploit available for CVE-2026-23896?

Yes, a public proof-of-concept exploit is available for CVE-2026-23896. Prioritise patching immediately. EPSS: 0.0%.

How to fix or mitigate CVE-2026-23896?

Within 24 hours: Audit all API key usage and access logs for suspicious elevation attempts; disable non-essential API keys and rotate all existing keys immediately. Within 7 days: Upgrade to Immich version 2.5.0 or later when available; if unavailable, implement network segmentation isolating Immich from production environments. Within 30 days: Conduct a complete security review of API key management practices; implement principle of least privilege for all API credentials and establish monitoring for privilege escalation attempts.

Immich CVE-2026-23896

HIGH

Improper Privilege Management (CWE-269)

2026-01-29 security-advisories@github.com

Privilege Escalation Immich

7.2

CVSS 3.1 · GitHub Advisory

View

Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

Access

Authenticate with low-privilege API key
Exploit

Call API key update endpoint
Execution

Modify permissions field to admin role
Impact

Escalate to full administrative access

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness	CWE CWE-269 OWASP Top 10:2025 A06:2025 - Insecure Design ASVS 5.0 V8 - Authorization Least privilege enforcement MITRE ATT&CK 1 technique across 1 tactic: Privilege Escalation The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. Sign in to read
Exploitation Conditions	Valid low-privilege API key with access to the API key update endpoint in Immich versions prior to 2.5.0. Requires existing authenticated API key; cannot be exploited by unauthenticated users.
Impact	CVSS 7.2 (HIGH). Attack vector: Network. Complexity: Low. Privileges required: High. User interaction: None. Exploitation requires authentication. Public exploit/POC available.
Exploit ScenarioDerived	An attacker (requires authentication) could exploit this vulnerability to compromise the affected system.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).

No patch listed yet 0.0% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Mar 12, 2026

Immich versions prior to 2.5.0 contain an improper access control flaw that allows any authenticated API key to escalate its privileges to full administrator level by manipulating the update endpoint. Public exploit code exists for this vulnerability, enabling attackers with basic API access to completely compromise the system. The flaw affects all unpatched Immich installations and requires upgrading to version 2.5.0 or later to remediate.

Earlier versions of this analysis (1)

v1 Mar 12, 2026 - 22:00 CVSS 7.2

immich is a high performance self-hosted photo and video management solution. Prior to version 2.5.0, API keys can escalate their own permissions by calling the update endpoint, allowing a low-privilege API key to grant itself full administrative access to the system. [CVSS 7.2 HIGH]

RemediationAI

Monitor vendor advisories for a patch. Restrict network access to the affected service where possible.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

Classified as CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management). Affects Immich. immich is a high performance self-hosted photo and video management solution. Prior to version 2.5.0, API keys can escalate their own permissions by calling the update endpoint, allowing a low-privilege API key to grant itself full administrative access to the system. Version 2.5.0 fixes the issue.

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Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

GitHub Advisory PRIMARY 7.2 HIGH

AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from GitHub Advisory · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorGitHub Advisory

Attack Vector

Network

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

High

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Lifecycle Timeline

PoC Detected

Mar 10, 2026 - 18:00 vuln.today

Public exploit code

CVE Published

Jan 29, 2026 - 18:16 nvd

HIGH 7.2

DescriptionGitHub Advisory

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

A critical privilege escalation vulnerability in Immich allows low-privilege API keys to self-elevate to full administrative access, enabling unauthorized users to gain complete control over photo and video management systems. Organizations using Immich versions prior to 2.5.0 face immediate risk of data theft, unauthorized access, and system compromise if API keys are exposed or misused.

Business Impact: High

Compensating Controls

Until vendor patch is available: (1) Implement strict network segmentation restricting API access to trusted internal networks only; (2) Deploy WAF rules to monitor and block API update endpoint calls from untrusted sources; (3) Disable API key functionality entirely if not operationally critical; (4) Restrict API key creation permissions to administrative users only; (5) Implement comprehensive audit logging and alerting on all API key modifications and privilege changes; (6) Enforce IP whitelisting for all API consumers.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score

0.0%

Top 88% exploitable

Exploit

POC

Public exploit code exists

Data Quality

4 sources

Confidence: Medium

NVD

CVE.org

EPSS

GitHub

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue

Severity HIGH

CISA KEV No

Public POC Yes

EPSS 0.0%

Patch available No

Active threat No

Deciding rule

HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)

What every action level means

Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.

Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived

Scheduled

Exploitation· derived

Poc

System Exposure· derived

Open

Automatable· derived

Human Impact

High

Priority Score

Low Medium High Critical

KEV: 0

EPSS: 0

CVSS: +36

PoC: +20

Weaponized: 0

Threat intel: 0

Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Privilege Escalation HIGH

Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker leverages flaws in access control mechanisms to gain permissions beyond what they were originally granted.