CVE-2026-54061: Dgraph Alpha group stores can be replaced via unauthenticated external snapshot import

Should you act?

Critical and remotely reachable

No known exploitation yet, but it is network-reachable without credentials. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.

• Not in CISA KEV, but CISA’s SSVC assessment records a public proof-of-concept, so attack code exists.
• EPSS 0.6%, percentile 47: FIRST’s model estimates a 0.6% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 47% of all scored CVEs (low). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
• Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.
• Only applies if your dependency tree includes github.com/dgraph-io/dgraph/v25 (Go) <= 25.3.4, fixed in 25.3.5. Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

What it is

Dgraph is an open source distributed GraphQL database. Prior to version 25.3.5, Dgraph Alpha exposes the RPCs used for external snapshot import on the public gRPC port :9080 without authentication or authorization. As a result, an unauthenticated network client can open StreamExtSnapshot and send Badger stream data to the target group’s store. In addition, the receiver calls Prepare() before processing the stream. This operation deletes and replaces the existing DB data. Version 25.3.5 patches the issue.

From the GitHub advisory

Summary

Dgraph Alpha exposes the RPCs used for external snapshot import on the public gRPC port :9080 without authentication or authorization. As a result, an unauthenticated network client can open StreamExtSnapshot and send Badger stream data to the target group’s store. In addition, the receiver calls Prepare() before processing the stream. This operation deletes and replaces the existing DB data.

Root Cause

The root cause is that the RPCs used for external snapshot import are exposed through Alpha’s public gRPC service, but no administrator authorization check is performed before reaching destructive storage operations.

Streaming RPCs such as StreamExtSnapshot do not have a stream interceptor, and the RPC handlers do not perform their own authorization checks. As a result, an unauthenticated client that can reach the public gRPC port can start the import flow. Dgraph then calls Badger’s StreamWriter.Prepare() on the target group store. This operation deletes the existing database, allowing the attacker’s stream to potentially replace the store.

Weakness type: CWE-306.

Product: github.com/dgraph-io/dgraph/v25 (Go) · Assigned by: GitHub_M · Published: 2026-07-08

Affected and fixed versions

Severity scores

• Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
• Attack complexity: low
• Privileges required: none (no login)
• User interaction: none
• Scope: unchanged

CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.

Exploitation and urgency

• CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
• CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation poc, automatable yes, technical impact total.
• FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 0.58% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 47.

Timeline

• 2026-07-08 — CVE record last updated
• 2026-07-08 — CVE record published by GitHub_M
• 2026-08-20 — GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-rrwh-6jrq-wp5v published (critical)

Sources and references

Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.

Vulnerability records

1. GitHub Advisory GHSA-rrwh-6jrq-wp5v github.com
2. CVE.org record CVE-2026-54061 cve.org
3. NVD entry CVE-2026-54061 nvd.nist.gov

Other references from the CVE record and advisory

1. github.com github.com
2. github.com github.com

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