Summary
CVE-2026-61808 is a critical missing-authentication vulnerability (CWE-306) in HKUDS LightRAG, a retrieval-augmented generation tool. By default the LightRAG API server binds to all network interfaces with authentication disabled, allowing an unauthenticated remote attacker to reach sensitive API endpoints. It carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (Critical).
Technical details
- Root cause: The LightRAG API server binds to all network interfaces with authentication disabled by default; authentication checks are skipped when neither
AUTH_ACCOUNTSnorLIGHTRAG_API_KEYis configured. - Trigger conditions: A LightRAG instance running in its default configuration and reachable over the network, with no API key or account credentials set.
- Attack vector: Network — no authentication, no privileges, and no user interaction are required to reach the exposed endpoints.
- Impact: Unauthenticated attackers can access indexed documents, manipulate knowledge graphs, manage pipelines, and exploit LLM resources, resulting in loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Affected software
- HKUDS LightRAG: all versions prior to 1.5.5rc1
Severity
- CVSS v3.1 base score: 9.8 (Critical)
- Vector:
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Mitigation and recommended actions
- Immediate: Upgrade to LightRAG 1.5.5rc1 or later.
- If no patch can be applied: Configure authentication by setting
LIGHTRAG_API_KEYorAUTH_ACCOUNTS, bind the server to loopback only (HOST=127.0.0.1) instead of all interfaces, and restrict network access to the API server so it is not exposed to untrusted networks.

