CVE-2026-58214 — NATS Server: MQTT subscribe ACL bypass via $MQTT.deliver.pubrel prefix (incomplete fix for CVE-2026-33217)
NATS Server is a high-performance server for NATS.io, the cloud and edge native messaging system. Prior to 2.14.3 and 2.12.12, an authenticated MQTT client could subscribe to the internal $MQTT.deliver.pubrel subject family, bypassing configured subscribe permissions and exposing MQTT QoS2 protocol metadata for sessions in the account. This issue is fixed in versions 2.14.3 and 2.12.12.
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.
- Documented patch — github.com (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — github.com (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
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 (Linuxfoundation Nats-server, Nats-io Nats-server).
- Apply the fixed version or the patch documented under Remediation.
- Search available logs for exploit probes matching the vulnerability class (access control), errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linuxfoundation | Nats-server | < 2.12.12≥ 2.14.0 and < 2.14.3 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Nats-io | Nats-server | version < 2.12.12version >= 2.14.0-RC.1, < 2.14.3 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3 | CVSS 3.1 | Medium | 2.8 | 1.4 | security-advisories@github.com via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 4.3 | 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:N (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).
- Audit administrative actions and access to resources outside each user’s normal pattern.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · nats-io/nats-server
- SSVC assessment updated
- Record published
- Fix documented
- CVSS changed · 4.3
- Source status changed · → Analyzed
- 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
5 on the record
- github.com/nats-io/nats-server/security/advisories/GHSA-4g68-3pwx-5vfj
- github.com/nats-io/nats-server/commit/34b09657bb596d5f850eaa5cfc97ea6b2f989a97
- github.com/nats-io/nats-server/commit/297b166be60fe13144084eed4b25201ead03204a
- github.com/nats-io/nats-server/releases/tag/v2.12.12
- github.com/nats-io/nats-server/releases/tag/v2.14.3
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Medium CVE-2026-58211 NATS Server: `no_auth_user` pre-CONNECT fast path bypasses user connection restrictions Jul 8, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-58207 NATS Server: Remote crash via integer overflow in Connz pagination Jul 8, 2026
- High CVE-2026-58208 NATS Server: MQTT-over-WebSocket Path Can Crash WebSocket-Only JetStream Servers Before MQTT Is Enabled Jul 8, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-58254 NATS Server: Incomplete fix for CVE-2026-33249: Leaf node connections bypass Nats-Trace-Dest permission check Jul 8, 2026
- High CVE-2026-58250 NATS Server: Pre-auth server crash via double INFO in leafnode handshake Jul 8, 2026
- High CVE-2026-58213 NATS Server: MQTT SUBSCRIBE Protocol Injection via Leaf Node/Route Forwarding allows arbitrary NATS command injection Jul 8, 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 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-2026-58214 is "NATS Server: MQTT subscribe ACL bypass via $MQTT.deliver.pubrel prefix (incomplete fix for CVE-2026-33217)", rated Medium. It affects Nats-server (Linuxfoundation); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 4.3 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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