CVE-2024-35184: paperless-ngx's remote user auth via header works even when disabling it for API

Severity: medium (CVSS 5.5 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.5% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2024-05-15 · updated 2026-06-17
Weakness: CWE-287

Description

Paperless-ngx is a document management system that transforms physical documents into a searchable online archive. Starting in version 2.5.0 and prior to version 2.8.6, remote user authentication allows API access even if API access is explicitly disabled. Version 2.8.6 contains a patchc for the issue.

Affected products

paperless-ngx: from 2.5.0 before 2.8.6 — fixed in 2.8.6

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: paperless-ngx 2.8.6. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

https://github.com/paperless-ngx/paperless-ngx/commit/ed05b40ba461641b1b59b0a92f51f3f6a66ce180
https://github.com/paperless-ngx/paperless-ngx/pull/6739
https://github.com/paperless-ngx/paperless-ngx/releases/tag/v2.8.6
https://github.com/paperless-ngx/paperless-ngx/security/advisories/GHSA-72w4-hxqq-c256
https://github.com/paperless-ngx/paperless-ngx/commit/ed05b40ba461641b1b59b0a92f51f3f6a66ce180
https://github.com/paperless-ngx/paperless-ngx/pull/6739
https://github.com/paperless-ngx/paperless-ngx/releases/tag/v2.8.6
https://github.com/paperless-ngx/paperless-ngx/security/advisories/GHSA-72w4-hxqq-c256

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