CVE-2026-55493

Full vulnerability record from the local CVENow database.

Description

HotCRP is conference review software. Starting with 2.101, the `cmt:` search term checks whether a comment is visible to the searching user but fails to check whether the commenter's identity should be visible. A `cmt:USER` search can therefore match a paper with a visible comment authored by USER even when the comment is supposed to be anonymous. An authenticated user with access to the search can infer the author of an anonymous comment, compromising reviewer anonymity. Comments that the user cannot see remain excluded from search results. The advisory prose identifies 3.3 as fixed, its affected-version metadata excludes 3.3, and the verified repository tag 3.3 already contains the identity-check fix; however, its patched-version metadata instead lists 3.3.1. This fixed-version source conflict remains unresolved.

Severity

MEDIUM

CVSS score

6.5 (v3.1)

Vulnerability status

Received

Source identifier

[email protected]

Published

2026-10-30 20:17:09.920000

Last modified

2026-10-30 20:17:09.920000

View original CVE JSON

{
  "id": "CVE-2026-55493",
  "sourceIdentifier": "[email protected]",
  "published": "2026-10-30T20:17:09.920",
  "lastModified": "2026-10-30T20:17:09.920",
  "vulnStatus": "Received",
  "cveTags": [],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "HotCRP is conference review software. Starting with 2.101, the `cmt:` search term checks whether a comment is visible to the searching user but fails to check whether the commenter's identity should be visible. A `cmt:USER` search can therefore match a paper with a visible comment authored by USER even when the comment is supposed to be anonymous. An authenticated user with access to the search can infer the author of an anonymous comment, compromising reviewer anonymity. Comments that the user cannot see remain excluded from search results. The advisory prose identifies 3.3 as fixed, its affected-version metadata excludes 3.3, and the verified repository tag 3.3 already contains the identity-check fix; however, its patched-version metadata instead lists 3.3.1. This fixed-version source conflict remains unresolved."
    }
  ],
  "affected": [
    {
      "source": "[email protected]",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "vendor": "kohler",
          "product": "hotcrp",
          "versions": [
            {
              "version": ">= 2.101, < 3.3",
              "status": "affected"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "metrics": {
    "cvssMetricV31": [
      {
        "source": "[email protected]",
        "type": "Secondary",
        "cvssData": {
          "version": "3.1",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N",
          "baseScore": 6.5,
          "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
          "attackVector": "NETWORK",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
          "userInteraction": "NONE",
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
          "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
          "integrityImpact": "NONE",
          "availabilityImpact": "NONE"
        },
        "exploitabilityScore": 2.8,
        "impactScore": 3.6
      }
    ]
  },
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "source": "[email protected]",
      "type": "Primary",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-863"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "references": [
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/kohler/hotcrp/commit/c4b008e756650db3063e8dd8300127936aae9ec1",
      "source": "[email protected]"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/kohler/hotcrp/releases/tag/v3.3",
      "source": "[email protected]"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/kohler/hotcrp/security/advisories/GHSA-x3g6-4c5h-7p29",
      "source": "[email protected]"
    }
  ]
}