Ghost Content API filter bypass reveals private fields
Impact
The validation applied to filters on the public API endpoints could be partially bypassed, making it possible to reveal private fields via a brute force attack. If SQLite was used as the database password hashes were fully accessible. If MySQL was used as the database the password hashes' case (uppercase / lowercase) would have been lost, which would likely have rendered a further brute force attack on the discovered hashes fruitless.
Vulnerable versions
This vulnerability is present in Ghost from v5.46.1 up to v6.21.1.
Patches
v6.21.2 contains a fix for this issue.
How to update
For self-hosters using Docker, find Docker's official Ghost image here. Updating a Docker-based Ghost instance is documented here.
If your Ghost is a Ghost-CLI install see our documentation on updating it to the latest version here.
Workarounds
If upgrading immediately is not possible, block or filter requests to Content API endpoints where the filter query parameter contains password or email (including any compound form such as users.password, users.email, authors.password, authors.email). Reject requests at a reverse proxy / WAF layer before they reach Ghost.
Example (case-insensitive) pattern to block on the raw querystring:
filter=[^&]*(password|email)References
Ghost thanks crnkovic for disclosing this vulnerability responsibly.
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory, email Ghost at security@ghost.org.
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm package | ghost | >= 5.46.1, < 6.21.2 | 6.21.2 |
References
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-200, CWE-693- Platform
- npm
- Package
ghost- Disclosed
- 05.08.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-jx35-x7fj-vgpr - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: ghost
All published vulnerabilities of this package (npm package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 61
- First → latest
- 04.2021 10.2026
- Without a fix
- 3
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 4
- High 16
- Medium 38
- Low 3
Disclosures per year
- 2021: 5
- 2022: 4
- 2023: 3
- 2024: 3
- 2025: 1
- 2026: 45
-
Ghost Content API filter bypass reveals private fields this entry
Know which vulnerabilities affect your application
With the DockRay integration and software inventory enabled, DockRay checks reported component versions against known vulnerabilities and notifies you about confirmed matches. Coverage depends on the supported technology and available advisory data.