CVE-2026-87014 in Open WebUI
Summary
by MITRE • 09/09/2026
Open WebUI is an extensible, feature-rich, and user-friendly self-hosted AI platform. From 0.9.0 until 0.11.1, role synchronization in backend/open_webui/routers/auths.py and backend/open_webui/utils/oauth.py updated an administrator's database role without invalidating the user record cached by backend/open_webui/socket/main.py. An administrator demoted through a trusted role header or OAuth role mapping could keep an already-open Socket.IO connection and continue reading or editing every user's collaborative notes until that connection closed. This issue is fixed in version 0.11.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2026
The vulnerability identified in Open WebUI versions ranging from 0.9.0 to 0.11.1 represents a critical authorization bypass rooted in the failure to synchronize session state with role-based access control changes. This flaw specifically affects the backend authentication and OAuth integration modules, where administrative privileges are managed through database records and external identity providers. When an administrator's role is downgraded or modified via trusted headers such as HTTP_X_REMOTE_USER_GROUP or through OAuth role mapping mechanisms, the system updates the persistent storage record to reflect the new lower-privilege status. However, this update fails to invalidate or terminate any active WebSocket connections established by that user prior to the change. Consequently, a demoted administrator retains their existing Socket.IO connection, which was originally authenticated with elevated privileges, allowing them to maintain access beyond what their current database role should permit.
From a technical perspective, the core issue lies in the decoupling of session lifecycle management from authorization state updates. The socket main module maintains long-lived connections that rely on initial authentication checks rather than continuous verification against the latest user permissions stored in the backend. This architectural oversight means that once a connection is established under an admin context, it remains valid until explicitly closed by client action or server timeout, regardless of subsequent role modifications. An attacker who has been demoted from an administrative position can exploit this window of opportunity to access sensitive data structures associated with collaborative features. Specifically, the vulnerability allows the continued reading and editing of every user's collaborative notes, which are typically considered confidential business information requiring strict access controls.
The operational impact of this flaw is significant for organizations relying on Open WebUI for secure collaboration. Since collaborative notes often contain proprietary strategies, personal data, or sensitive project details, unauthorized access by a demoted admin constitutes a severe breach of confidentiality and integrity. The attacker does not need to perform any complex exploitation steps beyond maintaining an open connection; the system itself fails to enforce the principle of least privilege in real-time for active sessions. This aligns with CWE-613, which describes insufficient session expiration, as well as CWE-284 regarding improper access control where authorization checks are performed at login but not during subsequent interactions within a long-lived session. Furthermore, this behavior can be mapped to the MITRE ATT&CK technique T1078, specifically Valid Accounts, as it involves maintaining persistent access through valid credentials that have been partially revoked or downgraded in authority.
To mitigate this vulnerability and prevent similar issues in future deployments, system administrators must ensure they are running version 0.11.1 or later where the fix has been implemented. The patch likely introduces logic to invalidate active sessions upon role changes or forces re-authentication when privilege levels drop below a certain threshold. For environments that cannot immediately upgrade, implementing reverse proxy configurations to enforce stricter session timeouts can reduce the window of exposure. Additionally, auditing OAuth and header-based authentication flows for consistency between persistent storage and in-memory state management is crucial. Security teams should also consider implementing periodic permission re-validation within long-lived WebSocket connections or using short-lived access tokens that require frequent refreshes against current database states to ensure that role changes are immediately reflected across all active communication channels.