CVE-2026-54553 — Starlette-Admin: Unvalidated `order_by` parameter allows ordering by hidden columns (info-exposure oracle) and HTTP 500 DoS
Starlette-Admin is a fast, beautiful and extensible administrative interface framework for FastAPI and Starlette applications. Prior to 0.16.1, the list API does not validate user-supplied order_by and structured where field names against the configured sortable_fields and searchable_fields allowlists. An authenticated user with access to an affected list endpoint can submit arbitrary field names to starlette_admin/base.py and the BaseModelView validation path, bypassing restrictions presented by the administrative user interface. Requests can sort or filter on fields that are not intended to be sortable or searchable, causing limited information exposure. Invalid field names and special Python attribute names such as metadata and the class dunder attribute can also trigger unhandled exceptions and HTTP 500 responses, causing limited denial of service for targeted requests. This issue is fixed in version 0.16.1.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- Technical severity (medium)+3
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
CISA SSVC assessment CISA
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Jowilf Starlette-admin).
- No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
- Search available logs for exploit probes matching the vulnerability class (info disclosure), errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jowilf | Starlette-admin | version < 0.16.1 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.4 | CVSS 3.1 | Medium | 2.8 | 2.5 | security-advisories@github.com via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 5.4 | CVSS 3.1 | Medium | — | — | GitHub_M via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:L (score shown at the top: security-advisories@github.com) Weakness MITRE
Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Prioritize edge telemetry for the network-reachable component (proxy, WAF, IDS/IPS).
- Look for anomalous data read/export volumes and access to sensitive records.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · jowilf/starlette-admin
- SSVC assessment updated
- Record published
- CVSS changed · 5.4
- Source status changed · → Deferred
- Record created in this database
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 15, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026
References
7 on the record
- github.com/jowilf/starlette-admin/commit/af05b45cd90944b726949fd650ab9d19f1abafc
- github.com/jowilf/starlette-admin/commit/3d9639d12ffc30b0b92d45ad6aae5fefabc948f
- github.com/jowilf/starlette-admin/security/advisories/GHSA-6753-gr46-6wpr
- github.com/jowilf/starlette-admin/releases/tag/0.16.1
- github.com/jowilf/starlette-admin/commit/d2a25ebbaf213d4c2cfc87187e34309ca6e30a5
- github.com/jowilf/starlette-admin/commit/57a1a76d45dfed16f580677303c5fd25220bd36
- github.com/jowilf/starlette-admin/pull/776
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Medium CVE-2026-89267 starlette-admin 0.16.1 through 0.17.1 Searchable Fields Allowlist Bypass Sep 11, 2026
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No FIRST EPSS score.
- No fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-54553 is "Starlette-Admin: Unvalidated `order_by` parameter allows ordering by hidden columns (info-exposure oracle) and HTTP 500 DoS", rated Medium. It affects Starlette-admin (Jowilf); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 5.4 describes technical severity. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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