OpenWA: A read-only API key can receive a session pairing QR over the WebSocket event stream (CVE-2026-91160) | HOL Guard CVE

High · CVSS 8.2CVE-2026-91160

OpenWA: A read-only API key can receive a session pairing QR over the WebSocket event stream

Answer in brief

CVE-2026-91160 records a High severity (CVSS 8.2) vulnerability in OpenWA: A read-only API key can receive a session pairing QR over the WebSocket event stream. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. The current feed maps rmyndharis/OpenWA (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Analysis pending evidence review

HOL Guard separates source facts from reviewed analysis. See the methodology.

Published Sep 24, 2026Updated Sep 24, 2026Source checked Sep 25, 2026First seen by HOL Sep 25, 2026Material review Sep 24, 2026

Upstream Advisory

Key facts

Risk: High · CVSS 8.2
Exploitation: Not marked as known exploited
Affected software: 1 mapped package or product
Fix availability: Available

Why this deserves its current priority

CVSS is 8.2. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. Treat this as a source-backed prioritization signal, not a statement about your environment.

Analysis status

Analysis pending evidence review

Factual feed record only; HOL analysis is not approved for indexing. Read the methodology.

Affected scope and exposure questions

The current feed maps rmyndharis/OpenWA (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Mapped affected packages and fixed versions
Package	Affected range	Fixed version
rmyndharis/OpenWAgeneric	<0.23.5	0.23.5

Recommended response

Check inventory. Check lockfiles and deployed manifests for rmyndharis/OpenWA.
Review the reported fix. Update rmyndharis/OpenWA to 0.23.5 if you use the affected versions. Test the change in a non-production environment first.

Evidence timeline and material changes

Published upstream
Sep 24, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
Source modified
Sep 24, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
First seen by HOL
Sep 25, 2026

Sources and claim methodology

Upstream source description

OpenWA is a free, open source, self-hosted WhatsApp API gateway. Prior to 0.23.5, the /events WebSocket gateway delivers the session.qr event to a VIEWER API key that subscribes by event name or through either wildcard subscription form, even though GET /api/sessions/{sessionId}/qr requires the OPERATOR role. When an allowed session is waiting to be paired, the exposed QR lets the key holder link an external device to the WhatsApp account and then read and send messages outside OpenWA and its audit trail. Keys restricted through allowedSessions remain limited to those sessions, and deployments that issue only OPERATOR or ADMIN keys are not affected. This issue is fixed in version 0.23.5.

Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.