Nautobot: REST API permits creation of GenericForeignKey references to objects that the user should not be able to reference
Impact
In the case of inter-object references via GenericForeignKey (a pattern allowing an object to reference another object that may belong to one of several different "content types" or database tables), when creating or updating an object containing a GenericForeignKey, Nautobot's REST API failed to enforce user "view" permissions when determining whether a given reference to another object would be valid.
As a concrete example, a user:
- who has permission to create or update
ImageAttachmentrecords - but who lacks permission to view (some or all)
Devicerecords - but who knows (via some other mechanism) the UUID of a specific
Devicethat they do not otherwise have access to
could create via the REST API an ImageAttachment linked to that specific Device.
Other models that use GenericForeignKey and may be writable via the REST API, and hence have a similar vulnerability to ImageAttachment, may include:
ApprovalWorkflowCableConfigContextContactAssociationDataComplianceDeviceExportTemplateGraphQLQueryNoteObjectMetadataRelationshipAssociationStaticGroupAssociationVirtualMachine
Additionally, any Nautobot Apps that provide models with a REST API and use GenericForeignKey may have a similar vulnerability for their models.
Patches
A general-purpose fix has been implemented in Nautobot 2.4.33 and 3.1.2, which ensures correct application of "view" permissions when creating or modifying object references via GenericForeignKey throughout the REST API. Individual models/views/serializers generally will not require any specific code changes to benefit from this fix.
Workarounds
No known workarounds at this time.
References
- 2.4.33 (<a href="https://github.com/nautobot/nautobot/commit/9918bdb9bcf1eb42cda72c344f420a64ef7665f1">patch</a>)
- 3.1.2 (<a href="https://github.com/nautobot/nautobot/commit/36cde7148a207234de6212ec074f321dbc9d1b5b">patch</a>)
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python (PyPI) | nautobot | >= 3.0.0a2, < 3.1.2, < 2.4.33 | 3.1.2, 2.4.33 |
References
- https://github.com/nautobot/nautobot/releases/tag/v2.4.33
- https://github.com/nautobot/nautobot/releases/tag/v3.1.2
- https://github.com/nautobot/nautobot/commit/36cde7148a207234de6212ec074f321dbc9d1b5b
- https://github.com/nautobot/nautobot/commit/9918bdb9bcf1eb42cda72c344f420a64ef7665f1
- https://github.com/nautobot/nautobot/security/advisories/GHSA-wpxj-44w3-2j6x
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-44794
- https://github.com/nautobot/nautobot
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-862- Platform
- Python (PyPI)
- Package
nautobot- Disclosed
- 13.05.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 14:17
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2026-2225 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-wpxj-44w3-2j6x - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: nautobot
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Python (PyPI)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 19
- First → latest
- 02.2023 09.2026
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- High 9
- Medium 6
- Low 4
Disclosures per year
- 2023: 5
- 2024: 5
- 2025: 2
- 2026: 7
-
Nautobot: REST API permits creation of GenericForeignKey references to objects that the user should not be able to reference this entry
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