Is CVE-2026-33540 actively exploited?

No active exploitation of CVE-2026-33540 has been confirmed so far. Continue monitoring, as exploit status can change.

Can CVE-2026-33540 be exploited remotely?

Yes. CVE-2026-33540 is exploitable remotely over the network (CVSS attack vector: Network).

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-33540?

CVE-2026-33540 has a CVSS score of 7.5 (HIGH).

HOME VULNERABILITIESCVE-2026-33540

HIGH

CVE-2026-33540

CWE-918Published: April 6, 2026· Updated: Apr 9, 2026

7.5

CVSS v3.1

EPSS:0.03%probability of exploitation in 30 daysPercentile:7.5th

Official Description

Distribution is a toolkit to pack, ship, store, and deliver container content. Prior to 3.1.0, in pull-through cache mode, distribution discovers token auth endpoints by parsing WWW-Authenticate challenges returned by the configured upstream registry. The realm URL from a bearer challenge is used without validating that it matches the upstream registry host. As a result, an attacker-controlled upstream (or an attacker with MitM position to the upstream) can cause distribution to send the configured upstream credentials via basic auth to an attacker-controlled realm URL. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.1.0.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2026-33540 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), with a CVSS base score of 7.5.