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Element Web EUVDEUVD-2026-113791

| CVE-2026-119407 HIGH
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) (CWE-352)
2026-10-30 VulnCheck GHSA-fm3q-8qwm-p5xr
7.1
CVSS 4.0 · Vendor: VulnCheck
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Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Access
    Craft link with guest_user_id and guest_access_token fragment
  2. Delivery
    Lure logged-in user to open link
  3. Exploit
    loadSession adopts attacker guest credentials
  4. Execution
    Victim force-logged-out and local stores cleared
  5. Impact
    Unbacked E2EE keys and encrypted history destroyed

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V3 - Web Frontend Security Anti-CSRF tokens, SameSite cookies
MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique across 1 tactic: Initial Access

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Exploitation Conditions

Requires that the victim is already logged into a vulnerable Element Web or Element Desktop build (<=1.12.31) and then opens an attacker-supplied link whose URL fragment carries both guest_user_id and guest_access_token parameters; the vulnerable loadSession path (getGuestHsUrl in apps/web/src/Lifecycle.ts, with the 'guest' fragment param config in url_utils.ts) then adopts those credentials. Limiting factors: passive user interaction is mandatory (the link must be clicked - no zero-click path), exploitation only affects versions before 1.12.32, and permanent data loss occurs only when the user has NOT enabled secure backup / Key storage (Settings > Encryption) - with backup enabled the keys are recoverable, reducing impact to a forced logout.

Impact

This is a genuine but conditional issue rather than a top-tier emergency. The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P) shows a network-reachable, low-complexity, unauthenticated flaw, but exploitation requires passive user interaction (UI:P) - the victim must open an attacker-crafted link while already logged in, which is characteristic of its CWE-352 CSRF nature. Impact is skewed toward availability/integrity (VC:N/VI:L/VA:H): no data is read, but a forced logout clears local stores and can destroy browser-held E2EE keys, causing irreversible loss of encrypted history and digital identity when secure backup is disabled. The vuln.today decision label is 'this_week' (not act_now/emergency), and there is no CISA KEV listing and no EPSS score in the input, so there is no signal of active or widespread exploitation. A public research write-up (abraxaslabs) and a VulnCheck advisory exist, indicating the mechanism is publicly documented. Net: a real, patch-worthy priority for Element deployments - especially privacy/high-security users relying on unbacked E2EE keys - but the required user interaction and absence of KEV/EPSS data place it below unauthenticated zero-click flaws. Missing data to note: EPSS and KEV status are absent from the input, so exploitation likelihood is inferred from decision label and reference availability only.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker crafts a URL containing guest_user_id and guest_access_token fragment parameters and lures a logged-in Element Web or Desktop user into clicking it (e.g., via chat, email, or a malicious page). On load, the client silently adopts the attacker-controlled guest session, instantly logging the victim out and clearing local stores; if the victim had not enabled secure key backup, their end-to-end encryption keys and encrypted message history are permanently destroyed. A public research reference and vendor advisory document the mechanism, though the input does not confirm packaged working exploit code.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Oct 30, 2026

Element Web and Element Desktop 1.12.31 and earlier will silently log out a logged-in user who opens a link whose URL fragment carries both guest_user_id and guest_access_token, because loadSession adopted those attacker-supplied guest credentials and cleared local stores. The practical consequence is loss of unbacked end-to-end encryption keys and, where no secure backup exists, of the user's digital identity; users with secure backup enabled can recover keys, reducing the outcome to a forced logout. Exploitation requires the victim to already be signed in and to click a crafted link - there is no zero-click path - and version 1.12.32 fixes it; no public exploit code has been confirmed, though the advisory and a research write-up describe the mechanism.

RemediationAI

Vendor-released patch: Element Web 1.12.32 and Element Desktop 1.12.32, available from https://github.com/element-hq/element-web/releases/tag/v1.12.32, with details in advisory GHSA-c88w-7h6p-27xr and the fix commit 792453c88a399d570599f5d73b08b40157cd80c0; the patch removes the guest fragment parameters and the loadSession guest branch entirely, so upgrade rather than rely on configuration. Until upgraded, the vendor's stated workarounds are to avoid clicking links from untrusted entities, especially any whose URL fragment contains guest_user_id and guest_access_token, and to enable Key storage under Settings > Encryption so end-to-end encryption keys are backed up and recoverable after a forced logout - without that backup, a single successful click can permanently destroy local keys, and there is no way to restore them after the fact. The vendor presents upgrading as the complete fix; blocking such links at the network or client level may reduce exposure but is not a substitute for the patch.

Affected VersionsENISA

element-web 0 <1.12.32
element-desktop 0 <1.12.32

Affected Packages

euvd element_desktop fix: 1.12.32
euvd element_web fix: 1.12.32

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 2 packages in euvd

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

Technical ContextAI · show details

Element Web's session bootstrap parses URL parameters through a config table in apps/web/src/vector/url_utils.ts that maps a 'guest' key to the fragment parameters guest_user_id and guest_access_token, and getGuestHsUrl in apps/web/src/Lifecycle.ts consumed them: if a guest homeserver URL was available and both parameters were present, doSetLoggedIn was called with those credentials, replacing the existing session and wiping the local store. Because the values arrive in the URL fragment and are simply accepted without any binding to the current session, an attacker who controls the link controls the session identity the client adopts. The fix commit 792453c88a399d570599f5d73b08b40157cd80c0 removes the fragment parameter configuration, the guest credential branch in loadSession, the related fields in ThreepidInviteStore, and the corresponding tests. CWE-352 (cross-site request forgery) is the assigned class: a state-changing action (logout plus local store destruction) is triggered by a crafted link rather than a forged form post, and the CVSS 4.0 vector rates VC:N with VI:L and VA:H, reflecting no confidentiality loss but high availability impact from destroyed local encryption material. Element Desktop embeds the same web client, so both products share the flaw up to 1.12.31.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (VulnCheck) PRIMARY 7.1 HIGH
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:L/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
vuln.today AI 7.1 HIGH

Network-delivered CSRF triggered only when the victim clicks a crafted link (UI:R), needs no auth (PR:N); no data disclosure (C:N), forced attacker guest session (I:L) and destructive logout/key loss (A:H).

3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H
4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:L/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (VulnCheck).

CVSS VectorVendor: VulnCheck

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Requirements
None
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Passive
Vulnerable system: Confidentiality
None
Vulnerable system: Integrity
Low
Vulnerable system: Availability
High
Subsequent system: Confidentiality
None
Subsequent system: Integrity
None
Subsequent system: Availability
None

DescriptionCVE.org

Element Web and Element Desktop before 1.12.32 accept guest credentials from URL fragment parameters in loadSession, allowing remote unauthenticated attackers to log out users and clear local stores. Attackers can lure logged-in users into opening links with guest_user_id and guest_access_token to force an attacker-controlled guest session and destroy unbacked end-to-end encryption keys.

Technical POC Analysis

CWE-352 as assigned to the CVE.

Full technical POC analysis - root cause, step-by-step exploitation and patch breakdown - is part of the Pro and Business plans.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

CVE-2026-119407 is a high-severity vulnerability in Element Web and Element Desktop (versions 1.12.31 and earlier) that can cause logged-in users to be silently signed out and lose access to unbacked end-to-end encryption keys, potentially resulting in permanent loss of digital identity. The attack requires a user to click a crafted link while authenticated, making it a targeted risk rather than a widespread exploit, but the impact on affected individuals-especially those without secure backup-can be severe and irrecoverable.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.1%
Top 96% exploitable
Prevalence
Medium
flagship Matrix client, common in privacy/enterprise/gov, not ubiquitous
Data Quality
4 sources
Confidence: Medium

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 No
EPSS 0.1%
Patch available Yes
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
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact
High

Priority Score

36
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +36
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Cross-Site Request Forgery exploits the automatic credential inclusion behavior of web browsers.

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