What products are affected by CVE-2026-42208?

CVE-2026-42208 affects BerriAI LiteLLM. Refer to the vendor advisory and NVD record for affected versions.

What is the EPSS score for CVE-2026-42208?

CVE-2026-42208 has an EPSS score of 56.9%, placing it in the 98th percentile. This means it has a 56.9% probability of being exploited in the next 30 days, higher than 98% of all known vulnerabilities. EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) is maintained by FIRST and uses real-world threat data to estimate exploitation likelihood.

Actively Exploited — CISA KEV

CVE-2026-42208: BerriAI LiteLLM Critical Vulnerability

Severity: Critical | CVSS 3.1: 9.8 | Published: 2026-05-08 | KEV Added: 2026-05-08

What is CVE-2026-42208?

LiteLLM is a proxy server (AI Gateway) to call LLM APIs in OpenAI (or native) format. From version 1.81.16 to before version 1.83.7, a database query used during proxy API key checks mixed the caller-supplied key value into the query text instead of passing it as a separate parameter. An unauthenticated attacker could send a specially crafted Authorization header to any LLM API route (for example POST /chat/completions) and reach this query through the proxy's error-handling path. An attacker could read data from the proxy's database and may be able to modify it, leading to unauthorised access to the proxy and the credentials it manages. This issue has been patched in version 1.83.7.

Technical Analysis

Weakness Classification

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-89 — SQL Injection. Untrusted data is included in SQL queries without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to read, modify, or delete database contents.

Attack Vector Breakdown

Attack Vector: Network
Attack Complexity: Low
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged
Confidentiality: High
Integrity: High
Availability: High

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability is exploitable over the network, meaning any system reachable via the internet or internal network is potentially at risk without physical access. The attack complexity is low, requires no special privileges, and needs no user interaction — making it straightforward to exploit at scale. Successful exploitation can result in full confidentiality breach (complete data disclosure), complete integrity compromise (data modification or code execution), total availability loss (denial of service). Untrusted data is included in SQL queries without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to read, modify, or delete database contents.

Exploitation Probability (EPSS): 56.9% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (98th percentile). This places the vulnerability in the highest risk tier — immediate action is critical.

Is CVE-2026-42208 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2026-42208 is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, restricted to CVEs with confirmed active exploitation in the wild. CISA added this vulnerability on 2026-05-08. Inclusion in KEV triggers the patching mandate under BOD 22-01 for U.S. federal civilian agencies, with a remediation deadline of 2026-05-11.

How to fix CVE-2026-42208

Apply the security update issued by BerriAI for LiteLLM. If an immediate patch is not possible, consult the vendor advisory for mitigation guidance, restrict network exposure of the affected service, and monitor logs for indicators of exploitation. CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog requires U.S. federal agencies to remediate this vulnerability by the due date shown below under Binding Operational Directive 22-01. Private organizations should treat KEV entries as priority-one patches because active exploitation has been confirmed in the wild.

Related Vulnerabilities

Other actively exploited vulnerabilities sharing the same weakness pattern (CWE-89 — SQL Injection):

CVE-2026-9082 (Critical 9.8) [same CWE] — Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL…
CVE-2026-21643 (Critical 9.8) [same CWE] — An improper neutralization of special elements used in an sql command ('sql…
CVE-2024-43468 (Critical 9.8) [same CWE] — Microsoft Configuration Manager Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
CVE-2025-25257 (Critical 9.8) [same CWE] — An improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command ('SQL…

Frequently asked questions

Is CVE-2026-42208 critical?

CVE-2026-42208 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 — Critical severity. It should be treated as a priority patch, especially given the active exploitation confirmed by CISA.

Is CVE-2026-42208 being actively exploited?

Yes — CISA added CVE-2026-42208 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2026-05-08. Inclusion in KEV means CISA has confirmed in-the-wild exploitation.

How do I patch CVE-2026-42208?

Apply the security update from BerriAI for LiteLLM. Federal agencies must remediate by 2026-05-11 under BOD 22-01.

What type of vulnerability is CVE-2026-42208?

CVE-2026-42208 is classified under CWE-89 (SQL Injection). Untrusted data is included in SQL queries without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to read, modify, or delete database contents.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-42208?

CVE-2026-42208 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, classifying it as Critical severity. The attack vector is Network, attack complexity is Low, and no privileges are required.