---
title: "CVE-2026-91160: OpenWA - Authorization Bypass"
description: "OpenWA < 0.23.5 contains an authorization bypass caused by improper role enforcement in /events WebSocket gateway delivering session.qr event to VIEWER API keys, letting attackers link external devices and access messages, exploit requires VIEWER API key subscription."
url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-91160/
---

# CVE-2026-91160 OpenWA - Authorization Bypass

OpenWA < 0.23.5 contains an authorization bypass caused by improper role enforcement in /events WebSocket gateway delivering session.qr event to VIEWER API keys, letting attackers link external devices and access messages, exploit requires VIEWER API key subscription.

CVSS base score 8.2 /10

High

CISA KEV

Not listed

Public exploit

None known

Authentication

Required

EPSS

0.25% chance of exploitation in 30 days

[View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-91160)

## Details

Type

Authorization Bypass

Impact

Broken Access Control

CVSS vector

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

Published

24 September 2026

Updated

15 October 2026

Weakness

[CWE-862](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/862.html)

## Vendor fix

Update to version 0.23.5 or later.

Patching closes this CVE. It does not tell you which of your systems run the affected version, or what else is exposed alongside them.

## References

- [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-91160](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-91160)
- [https://github.com/rmyndharis/OpenWA/pull/1602](https://github.com/rmyndharis/OpenWA/pull/1602)
- [https://github.com/rmyndharis/OpenWA/releases/tag/v0.23.5](https://github.com/rmyndharis/OpenWA/releases/tag/v0.23.5)
- [https://github.com/rmyndharis/OpenWA/security/advisories/GHSA-m427-j4h4-9qwj](https://github.com/rmyndharis/OpenWA/security/advisories/GHSA-m427-j4h4-9qwj)
- [https://github.com/rmyndharis/OpenWA/commit/acc23c3803c07f43791a92e8e48456572fd69bdc](https://github.com/rmyndharis/OpenWA/commit/acc23c3803c07f43791a92e8e48456572fd69bdc)
- [https://github.com/rmyndharis/OpenWA/commit/b9d9ea1c57bde98b7833a5d6e482998703667ef0](https://github.com/rmyndharis/OpenWA/commit/b9d9ea1c57bde98b7833a5d6e482998703667ef0)

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## What this record can't tell you

- Whether you run the affected software, and where
- Whether an attacker can actually reach and exploit it
- The misconfigurations that never get a CVE number
- What it would cost the business, ranked into what to fix first

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