CVE-2026-42018
CVE-2026-42018 is a security flaw in JFrog Artifactory, where companies store their software packages. Attackers can get into JFrog Artifactory without a valid password. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 11 Sep 2026.[1]
JFrog Artifactory is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. Fixed in version 7.111.20, 7.117.27, 7.125.19 and 7.133.28 and others of artifactory.
Description
CISA calls it an improper authentication in JFrog Artifactory. In its words: “JFrog Artifactory contains an improper authentication vulnerability that could return an internal anonymous-user token to an unauthenticated caller when anonymous access is disabled, potentially exposing sensitive resources.”[1]
The underlying weakness is improper authentication (CWE-287), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.[2]
It scores 7.5 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it high, scored by the organisation that published the CVE using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record lists these fixed versions: in each line, everything before the version shown is affected.[2]
| Product | Fixed in |
|---|---|
| artifactory | 7.111.20 |
| artifactory | 7.117.27 |
| artifactory | 7.125.19 |
| artifactory | 7.133.28 |
| artifactory | 7.146.8 |
Most families won’t have JFrog Artifactory; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 11 Sep 2026, 30 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 25 Sep 2026 to fix it.[1]
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 10%. That’s in the top 5% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as automatable: attackers can run it against many targets at once.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
JFrog has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes).”[1]
- Check whether you use it.JFrog Artifactory is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed (fixed in version 7.111.20, 7.117.27, 7.125.19 and 7.133.28 and others of artifactory), or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 25 Sep 2026 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 7.5.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 10%.[4] |
See also
Other JFrog Artifactory flaws
- CVE-2026-42016: incorrect authorization ·
- CVE-2026-82329: improper authentication ·
- CVE-2026-66384: improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory ·
Other improper authentication flaws
- CVE-2026-105133, AhsayCBS: improper authentication ·
- CVE-2026-59822, BerriAI LiteLLM: improper authentication ·
- CVE-2023-49105, ownCloud: improper authentication ·
- CVE-2026-65400, Apple macOS: improper authentication ·
- CVE-2026-16232, Check Point SmartConsole: improper authentication ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2026-85706, GitLab Community Edition and Enterprise Edition: path traversal ·
- CVE-2026-84869, ConnectWise ScreenConnect: improper privilege management and missing authorization ·
- CVE-2026-42016, JFrog Artifactory: incorrect authorization ·
Every JFrog flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in September 2026
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “JFrog Artifactory Improper Authentication Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 11 Sep 2026.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2026-42018 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 12 Aug 2026.
- ^ JFrog. Advisories and fixes: docs.jfrog.com, docs.jfrog.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.098, percentile 95.5, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2026-42018”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.