CVE-2026-23838
Tandoor Recipes module allows SQLite database to be externally accessible with the default settings
Tandoor Recipes is a recipe manager than can be installed with the Nix package manager. Starting in version 23.05 and prior to version 26.05, when using the default configuration of Tandoor Recipes, specifically using SQLite and default MEDIA_ROOT, the full database file may be externally accessible, potentially on the Internet. The root cause is that the NixOS module configures the working directory of Tandoor Recipes, as well as the value of MEDIA_ROOT, to be /var/lib/tandoor-recipes. This causes Tandoor Recipes to create its db.sqlite3 database file in the same directory as MEDIA_ROOT causing it to be accessible without authentication through HTTP like any other media file. This is the case when using GUNICORN_MEDIA=1 or when using a web server like nginx to serve media files. NixOS 26.05 changes the default value of MEDIA_ROOT to a sub folder of the data directory. This only applies to configurations with system.stateVersion >= 26.05. For older configurations, one of the workarounds should be applied instead. NixOS 25.11 has received a backport of this patch, though it doesn't fix this vulnerability without user intervention. A recommended workaround is to move MEDIA_ROOT into a subdirectory. Non-recommended workarounds include switching to PostgreSQL or disallowing access to db.sqlite3.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
8.7
Tandoor Recipes module allows SQLite database to be externally accessible with the default settings
Tandoor Recipes is a recipe manager than can be installed with the Nix package manager. Starting in version 23.05 and prior to version 26.05, when using the default configuration of Tandoor Recipes, specifically using SQLite and default MEDIA_ROOT, the full database file may be externally accessible, potentially on the Internet. The root cause is that the NixOS module configures the working directory of Tandoor Recipes, as well as the value of MEDIA_ROOT, to be /var/lib/tandoor-recipes. This causes Tandoor Recipes to create its db.sqlite3 database file in the same directory as MEDIA_ROOT causing it to be accessible without authentication through HTTP like any other media file. This is the case when using GUNICORN_MEDIA=1 or when using a web server like nginx to serve media files. NixOS 26.05 changes the default value of MEDIA_ROOT to a sub folder of the data directory. This only applies to configurations with system.stateVersion >= 26.05. For older configurations, one of the workarounds should be applied instead. NixOS 25.11 has received a backport of this patch, though it doesn't fix this vulnerability without user intervention. A recommended workaround is to move MEDIA_ROOT into a subdirectory. Non-recommended workarounds include switching to PostgreSQL or disallowing access to db.sqlite3.
- Record
CVE-2026-23838- CVSS 4.0
- 8.7 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-538
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-3303
8.7
Tandoor Recipes is a recipe manager than can be installed with the Nix package manager. Starting in version 23.05 and prior to version 26.05, when using the default configuration of Tandoor Recipes, specifically using SQLite and default MEDIA_ROOT, the full database file may be externally accessible, potentially on the Internet. The root cause is that the NixOS module configures the working directory of Tandoor Recipes, as well as the value of MEDIA_ROOT, to be /var/lib/tandoor-recipes. This causes Tandoor Recipes to create its db.sqlite3 database file in the same directory as MEDIA_ROOT causing it to be accessible without authentication through HTTP like any other media file. This is the case when using GUNICORN_MEDIA=1 or when using a web server like nginx to serve media files. NixOS 26.05 changes the default value of MEDIA_ROOT to a sub folder of the data directory. This only applies to configurations with system.stateVersion >= 26.05. For older configurations, one of the workarounds should be applied instead. NixOS 25.11 has received a backport of this patch, though it doesn't fix this vulnerability without user intervention. A recommended workaround is to move MEDIA_ROOT into a subdirectory. Non-recommended workarounds include switching to PostgreSQL or disallowing access to db.sqlite3.
- Record
EUVD-2026-3303- CVSS 4.0
- 8.7 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
8.7
Tandoor Recipes is a recipe manager than can be installed with the Nix package manager. Starting in version 23.05 and prior to version 26.05, when using the default configuration of Tandoor Recipes, specifically using SQLite and default MEDIA_ROOT, the full database file may be externally accessible, potentially on the Internet. The root cause is that the NixOS module configures the working directory of Tandoor Recipes, as well as the value of MEDIA_ROOT, to be /var/lib/tandoor-recipes. This causes Tandoor Recipes to create its db.sqlite3 database file in the same directory as MEDIA_ROOT causing it to be accessible without authentication through HTTP like any other media file. This is the case when using GUNICORN_MEDIA=1 or when using a web server like nginx to serve media files. NixOS 26.05 changes the default value of MEDIA_ROOT to a sub folder of the data directory. This only applies to configurations with system.stateVersion >= 26.05. For older configurations, one of the workarounds should be applied instead. NixOS 25.11 has received a backport of this patch, though it doesn't fix this vulnerability without user intervention. A recommended workaround is to move MEDIA_ROOT into a subdirectory. Non-recommended workarounds include switching to PostgreSQL or disallowing access to db.sqlite3.
- Record
CVE-2026-23838- CVSS 4.0
- 8.7 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - Weakness
- CWE-538
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
8.7
Tandoor Recipes module allows SQLite database to be externally accessible with the default settings
Tandoor Recipes is a recipe manager than can be installed with the Nix package manager. Starting in version 23.05 and prior to version 26.05, when using the default configuration of Tandoor Recipes, specifically using SQLite and default MEDIA_ROOT, the full database file may be externally accessible, potentially on the Internet. The root cause is that the NixOS module configures the working directory of Tandoor Recipes, as well as the value of MEDIA_ROOT, to be /var/lib/tandoor-recipes. This causes Tandoor Recipes to create its db.sqlite3 database file in the same directory as MEDIA_ROOT causing it to be accessible without authentication through HTTP like any other media file. This is the case when using GUNICORN_MEDIA=1 or when using a web server like nginx to serve media files. NixOS 26.05 changes the default value of MEDIA_ROOT to a sub folder of the data directory. This only applies to configurations with system.stateVersion >= 26.05. For older configurations, one of the workarounds should be applied instead. NixOS 25.11 has received a backport of this patch, though it doesn't fix this vulnerability without user intervention. A recommended workaround is to move MEDIA_ROOT into a subdirectory. Non-recommended workarounds include switching to PostgreSQL or disallowing access to db.sqlite3.
- Record
CVE-2026-23838- CVSS 4.0
- 8.7 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-538
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-23838 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.7) in Nixos Nixpkgs, published January 19, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.51%, the 43rd percentile. No source names a fixed version.