CVE-2025-61928

CRITICAL

NPM Better-auth < 1.3.26 - Missing Authentication

Title source: rule
STIX 2.1

Description

Better Auth is an authentication and authorization library for TypeScript. In versions prior to 1.3.26, unauthenticated attackers can create or modify API keys for any user by passing that user's id in the request body to the `api/auth/api-key/create` route. `session?.user ?? (authRequired ? null : { id: ctx.body.userId })`. When no session exists but `userId` is present in the request body, `authRequired` becomes false and the user object is set to the attacker-controlled ID. Server-only field validation only executes when `authRequired` is true (lines 280-295), allowing attackers to set privileged fields. No additional authentication occurs before the database operation, so the malicious payload is accepted. The same pattern exists in the update endpoint. This is a critical authentication bypass enabling full an unauthenticated attacker can generate an API key for any user and immediately gain complete authenticated access. This allows the attacker to perform any action as the victim user using the api key, potentially compromise the user data and the application depending on the victim's privileges. Version 1.3.26 contains a patch for the issue.

Scores

CVSS v4 9.3
EPSS 0.0028
EPSS Percentile 51.1%
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation poc
Automatable yes
Technical Impact total

Details

CWE
CWE-285 CWE-306
Status published
Products (2)
better-auth/better-auth < 1.3.26
npm/better-auth 0 - 1.3.26npm
Published Oct 09, 2025
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026