Rapid7 Metasploit Framework up to 6.5.1 JSON-RPC web service interface improper authentication

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.0$0-$5k1.85

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in Rapid7 Metasploit Framework up to 6.5.1. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the component JSON-RPC web service interface. Such manipulation leads to improper authentication. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2026-16895. The attack can be executed remotely. There is not any exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Rapid7 Metasploit Framework up to 6.5.1. Affected by this issue is an unknown part of the component JSON-RPC web service interface. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a improper authentication vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-287. When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

A logic vulnerability (fail-open condition) has been identified within the Metasploit Framework's JSON-RPC web service interface. When an exception occurs during the database health check (db.check) and the environment variable MSF_WS_JSON_RPC_API_TOKEN is not explicitly set, the application resets the internal state flag msf.auth_initialized to false. The ApiToken Warden authentication strategy misinterprets this false value as an indicator that authentication is not initialized or required, thereby granting unauthenticated local access to the JSON-RPC request dispatcher.

The advisory is shared for download at rapid7.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-16895 since 07/24/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be launched remotely. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available.

Upgrading to version 6.5.2 eliminates this vulnerability.

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Productinfo

Vendor

Name

Version

License

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CNA CVSS-B Score: 🔒
CNA CVSS-BT Score: 🔒
CNA Vector: 🔒

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.0

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 7.0
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Improper authentication
CWE: CWE-287
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Metasploit Framework 6.5.2

Timelineinfo

07/24/2026 CVE reserved
08/27/2026 +34 days Advisory disclosed
08/27/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
08/27/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: rapid7.com
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-16895 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-16895
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-396056

Entryinfo

Created: 08/27/2026 06:17
Changes: 08/27/2026 06:17 (66)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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