CVE-2026-54695 in pipecat
Summary
by MITRE • 07/09/2026
Pipecat is an open-source Python framework for building real-time voice and multimodal conversational agents. Prior to 1.4.0, the pipecat development runner registers a /ws WebSocket endpoint for telephony testing that accepts connections without authentication, reads an attacker-supplied callSid from a Twilio stream-start handshake in src/pipecat/runner/utils.py, and passes it to TwilioFrameSerializer so the server can issue an authenticated Twilio REST API hang-up request with the server operator's credentials; equivalent unauthenticated call-control sinks exist for Telnyx and Plivo. This issue is fixed in version 1.4.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2026
The vulnerability in Pipecat affects versions prior to 1.4.0 and represents a critical authentication bypass flaw that enables remote attackers to manipulate telephony sessions through unauthenticated WebSocket endpoints. The development runner exposes a /ws WebSocket endpoint specifically designed for telephony testing purposes, which operates without any form of authentication mechanism. This endpoint accepts incoming connections from any client and processes Twilio stream-start handshakes that contain attacker-supplied callSid values. The flaw resides in the src/pipecat/runner/utils.py file where the system reads these call identifiers directly from the handshake data without proper validation or authorization checks. Once an attacker establishes a WebSocket connection, they can inject malicious callSid values that are then passed to the TwilioFrameSerializer component, which subsequently uses the server operator's legitimate Twilio REST API credentials to execute hang-up commands against any targeted call.
This vulnerability creates a significant operational risk by allowing unauthorized users to gain control over telephony sessions within the system. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it leverages the legitimate authentication credentials stored on the server, enabling attackers to perform call control operations such as hanging up calls without requiring valid Twilio account credentials or API keys from the actual user. The impact extends beyond simple call termination to potentially include other call control functions that may be exposed through similar mechanisms. The issue affects not only Twilio implementations but also equivalent vulnerabilities exist for Telnyx and Plivo telephony platforms, indicating a systemic flaw in how these development environments handle authentication for telephony session management. This pattern of vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and represents a classic case of insecure direct object references where attackers can manipulate session identifiers to control resources they should not have access to.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are severe for organizations using Pipecat in development or testing environments where the framework is exposed to untrusted networks. Attackers could potentially disrupt communications, perform denial-of-service attacks against legitimate calls, or even use this capability as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks within the telephony infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it exists only in development runners rather than production deployments, but many organizations may inadvertently expose these testing endpoints to external networks during development cycles. Organizations relying on Pipecat for building conversational agents must consider that attackers could exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to their telephony systems and potentially escalate privileges through other connected services. The fix implemented in version 1.4.0 addresses this by introducing proper authentication requirements for the WebSocket endpoint, ensuring that only authorized users can establish connections and manipulate telephony sessions.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing strict access controls for development endpoints, particularly those handling telephony communications. Organizations should ensure that any WebSocket endpoints used for testing purposes are properly secured through authentication mechanisms such as API keys, OAuth tokens, or IP-based restrictions. The implementation should follow ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which addresses application layer protocol: DNS to ensure that communication channels are properly authenticated and authorized. Additionally, network segmentation should be implemented to isolate development environments from production systems, preventing unauthorized access to legitimate telephony credentials stored on development servers. Regular security audits should verify that all development endpoints are properly secured and that no unauthenticated access points exist for telephony control functions. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper configuration management in development environments where security controls may be relaxed but still need to maintain integrity against malicious actors who might attempt to exploit these testing interfaces.