---
id: "CVE-2026-46487"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-46487"]
title: "GeoNetwork: search proxy skips access filters, exposing hidden metadata records"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.5
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["elasticsearch", "geonetwork", "package", "self-hosted"]
not_affected_if: ["no-public-search-api", "patched-version"]
published_at: "2026-11-03T19:18:05+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-03T19:44:52+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-03T19:45:30+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-46487", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-03T19:44:52+00:00"}]
---

# GeoNetwork: search proxy skips access filters, exposing hidden metadata records

When a search request leaves out the query field, GeoNetwork's Elasticsearch search proxy forwards it without its access-control filters. An unauthenticated remote attacker can then read the full indexed contents of metadata records that should not be public.

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

## How to check

- Check the GeoNetwork version in the deployment: versions from 4.0.0-alpha.1 up to, but not including, 4.2.16 and 4.4.11 are affected.
- Confirm whether the public search API is reachable from the internet.

## Fix

- Upgrade to `4.2.16` on the 4.2 line.
- Upgrade to `4.4.11` on the 4.4 line.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-03T19:44:52+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-46487

## Documents

- [advisory] Vendor advisory: github.com https://github.com/geonetwork/core-geonetwork/security/advisories/GHSA-582q-v28r-7cxr
- [fix] Patch: github.com https://github.com/geonetwork/core-geonetwork/commit/1916412d38999f2eff68bad2dfccd69340d20f3f
- [fix] Patch: github.com https://github.com/geonetwork/core-geonetwork/commit/6c756c63cd1fa942f3832d99c64380c69c5e8be9
- [fix] Release notes: github.com https://github.com/geonetwork/core-geonetwork/releases/tag/4.2.16
- [fix] Release notes: github.com https://github.com/geonetwork/core-geonetwork/releases/tag/4.4.11

## From the sources

GeoNetwork is a catalog application to manage spatially referenced resources. From 4.0.0-alpha.1 until 4.2.16 and 4.4.11, the Elasticsearch-backed search proxy can skip GeoNetwork's access-control filter injection when a client request has an omitted query field. The request is then forwarded to Elasticsearch without group visibility, draft exclusion, record ownership, or portal-specific filtering. An unauthenticated remote attacker can use the affected public search API to retrieve the full indexed contents of metadata records that should not be publicly visible. This issue is fixed in versions 4.2.16 and 4.4.11.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_