---
id: "CVE-2026-126539"
page: "https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-126539"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-126539"]
title: "Directus: WebSocket auth failure lets anonymous users skip permission checks"
severity: "critical"
cvss: 9.2
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["directus", "package", "self-hosted", "websocket"]
not_affected_if: ["directus-12.1.0-or-later", "websockets-disabled"]
published_at: "2026-11-11T01:17:15+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-11T01:24:34+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-11T01:25:45+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-126539", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-11T01:24:34+00:00"}]
exploit_sources: []
---

# Directus: WebSocket auth failure lets anonymous users skip permission checks

Link for people: https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-126539 (this .md is for agents)

Directus before 12.1.0 lets an unauthenticated client send a failed auth message on a public-mode WebSocket connection, which clears the request's accountability so permission checks are skipped. An attacker can then read, create, update or delete records in any user-defined collection.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## How to check

- Check the Directus version in your deployment, for example `directus --version` or the package.json of your Directus project, and see whether it is below `12.1.0`.
- Check whether WebSocket access is enabled on your Directus instance (the WebSockets setting in the Directus configuration), since the flaw is on public-mode WebSocket connections.

## Fix

- Directus: move to `12.1.0` or later.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-11T01:24:34+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-126539

## Documents

- [advisory] Vendor advisory: github.com https://github.com/directus/directus/security/advisories/GHSA-97xr-jchp-xm3c
- [advisory] Third-party advisory: www.vulncheck.com https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/directus-before-12.1.0-authorization-bypass-via-public-websocket-rest-interface
- [fix] Patch: github.com https://github.com/directus/directus/commit/8d4cd86783bcbf5444eaf290e8dcecb33929300e
- [fix] Release notes: github.com https://github.com/directus/directus/releases/tag/v12.1.0

## From the sources

Directus before 12.1.0 contains an authorization bypass vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to skip permission checks by sending a failed auth message on public-mode WebSocket connections. Attackers can send an invalid token so handleAuthRequest sets accountability to null, then read, create, update or delete records in any user-defined collection.

---

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