CVE-2021-39192
Privilege escalation: all users can access Admin-level API keys
Ghost is a Node.js content management system. An error in the implementation of the limits service between versions 4.0.0 and 4.9.4 allows all authenticated users (including contributors) to view admin-level API keys via the integrations API endpoint, leading to a privilege escalation vulnerability. This issue is patched in Ghost version 4.10.0. As a workaround, disable all non-Administrator accounts to prevent API access. It is highly recommended to regenerate all API keys after patching or applying the workaround.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- High
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
Privilege escalation: all users can access Admin-level API keys
Ghost is a Node.js content management system. An error in the implementation of the limits service between versions 4.0.0 and 4.9.4 allows all authenticated users (including contributors) to view admin-level API keys via the integrations API endpoint, leading to a privilege escalation vulnerability. This issue is patched in Ghost version 4.10.0. As a workaround, disable all non-Administrator accounts to prevent API access. It is highly recommended to regenerate all API keys after patching or applying the workaround.
- Record
CVE-2021-39192- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-200
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-1477
Ghost is a Node.js content management system. An error in the implementation of the limits service between versions 4.0.0 and 4.9.4 allows all authenticated users (including contributors) to view admin-level API keys via the integrations API endpoint, leading to a privilege escalation vulnerability. This issue is patched in Ghost version 4.10.0. As a workaround, disable all non-Administrator accounts to prevent API access. It is highly recommended to regenerate all API keys after patching or applying the workaround.
- Record
EUVD-2021-1477- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-j5c2-hm46-wp5c
Privilege escalation: all users can access Admin-level API keys
Impact
An error in the implementation of the limits service in 4.0.0 allows all authenticated users (including contributors) to view admin-level API keys via the integrations API endpoint, leading to a privilege escalation vulnerability.
Ghost(Pro) has already been patched. Self-hosters are impacted if running Ghost a version between 4.0.0 and 4.9.4. Immediate action should be taken to secure your site - see patches & workarounds below.
It is highly recommended to regenerate all API keys after patching or applying the workaround below.
Patches
Fixed in 4.10.0, all 4.x sites should upgrade as soon as possible.
Workarounds
- Disable all non-Administrator accounts to prevent API access.
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:
- email us at [email protected]
Credits: Aden Yap Chuen Zhen, BAE Systems Applied Intelligence (Malaysia)
- Record
GHSA-j5c2-hm46-wp5c- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-200, CWE-269
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
Ghost is a Node.js content management system. An error in the implementation of the limits service between versions 4.0.0 and 4.9.4 allows all authenticated users (including contributors) to view admin-level API keys via the integrations API endpoint, leading to a privilege escalation vulnerability. This issue is patched in Ghost version 4.10.0. As a workaround, disable all non-Administrator accounts to prevent API access. It is highly recommended to regenerate all API keys after patching or applying the workaround.
- Record
CVE-2021-39192- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - CVSS 3.1
- 7.2 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 6.5 Medium
AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P - Weakness
- CWE-200, CWE-269
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
Ghost is a Node.js content management system. An error in the implementation of the limits service between versions 4.0.0 and 4.9.4 allows all authenticated users (including contributors) to view admin-level API keys via the integrations API endpoint, leading to a privilege escalation vulnerability. This issue is patched in Ghost version 4.10.0. As a workaround, disable all non-Administrator accounts to prevent API access. It is highly recommended to regenerate all API keys after patching or applying the workaround.
- Record
CVE-2021-39192- CVSS 3.1
- 7.2 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-j5c2-hm46-wp5c
Privilege escalation: all users can access Admin-level API keys
Impact
An error in the implementation of the limits service in 4.0.0 allows all authenticated users (including contributors) to view admin-level API keys via the integrations API endpoint, leading to a privilege escalation vulnerability.
Ghost(Pro) has already been patched. Self-hosters are impacted if running Ghost a version between 4.0.0 and 4.9.4. Immediate action should be taken to secure your site - see patches & workarounds below.
It is highly recommended to regenerate all API keys after patching or applying the workaround below.
Patches
Fixed in 4.10.0, all 4.x sites should upgrade as soon as possible.
Workarounds
- Disable all non-Administrator accounts to prevent API access.
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:
- email us at [email protected]
Credits: Aden Yap Chuen Zhen, BAE Systems Applied Intelligence (Malaysia)
- Record
GHSA-j5c2-hm46-wp5c- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-200, CWE-269
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVBIT-ghost-2021-39192 No score
Privilege escalation: all users can access Admin-level API keys
Ghost is a Node.js content management system. An error in the implementation of the limits service between versions 4.0.0 and 4.9.4 allows all authenticated users (including contributors) to view admin-level API keys via the integrations API endpoint, leading to a privilege escalation vulnerability. This issue is patched in Ghost version 4.10.0. As a workaround, disable all non-Administrator accounts to prevent API access. It is highly recommended to regenerate all API keys after patching or applying the workaround.
- Record
BIT-ghost-2021-39192- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2021-39192 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 6.5) in Ghost, published July 22, 2021. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.02%, the 63rd percentile. Fixed in ghost 4.10.0.