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Vulnerability · Published Sep 15, 2026 · Assigned by GitHub_M

CVE-2026-52824Kimai: Default APP_SECRET in Docker Image Enables Cookie Forgery and Account Takeover

Critical 9.1

In plain English

A critical-severity security flaw in kimai from kimai. There are no confirmed reports of exploitation so far. The chance it is exploited in the next 30 days is estimated at 1.3% (higher than 71% of all known vulnerabilities). Ready-made attack tooling exists: Nuclei, public proof-of-concept code. Fixed versions are available - upgrade the affected package.

Severity (CVSS 4.0)9.1Critical
Exploit odds (30 days)1.3%top 28.7% of all CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo reportsCISA SSVC: none
Attack tooling2Nuclei, Public PoC

Official description

Kimai is an open-source time tracking application. Prior to 2.58.0, the official Docker image sets APP_SECRET to the public value change_this_to_something_unique in Dockerfile, and .docker/entrypoint.sh neither replaces nor rejects that value before Symfony uses it as kernel.secret. An unauthenticated attacker who reaches a deployment that did not override APP_SECRET, knows a username, correctly guesses the account ID associated with that username, and targets an account without active two-factor authentication can forge HMAC-protected authentication artifacts, including KIMAI_REMEMBER cookies and login links, to access the account without its password. The updated entrypoint generates and persists a random secret when no safe operator-provided value exists. This issue is fixed in version 2.58.0.

Affected packages & fixed versions

EcosystemPackageFixed inAdvisory
Packagistkimai/kimai2.58.0GHSA-jr9p-4h4j-6c58

Affected products (as reported)

VendorProductVersions
kimai kimai < 2.58.0

Weakness: CWE-1188 · Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

References