Vanderbilt University REDCap: Code Injection (CVE-2026-90817)

What is affected, what to do

An unauthenticated Remote Code Execution vulnerability was found in the survey passthrough routing and Data Import processing logic, in which a malicious user could potentially exploit it by manipulating HTTP requests to access an unintended controller route from a public survey context and by supplying a crafted file-path/stream parameter during import handling. If successfully exploited, this could allow the attacker to remotely execute arbitrary code on the REDCap server.

The vulnerability is being actively exploited; treat it as a priority. The available sources name no fixed version. Check the vendor guidance in the references below.

Affected

• Vanderbilt University REDCap eq 13.3.0..13.3.0

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Metrics

Detection rules

No NEOSEC detection rule is available for this vulnerability yet.

Classification under NIS2 and CRA

Rule-based classification from exploitation status and severity. It does not replace a case-by-case assessment.

NIS2

NIS2 is EU Directive (EU) 2022/2555 to raise the level of cybersecurity across the Union. It substantially broadens obligations compared with the first NIS directive: more sectors, mandatory risk management, staged reporting duties and personal accountability of senior management.

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Actively exploited: treat the vulnerability as a priority in vulnerability handling under Art. 21(2)(e) NIS2. If it is exploited in your environment, check the reporting obligation under Art. 23 (early warning within 24 hours).

CRA

The CRA is EU Regulation (EU) 2024/2847 setting horizontal cybersecurity requirements for „products with digital elements“ — from industrial controllers and software to connected consumer devices. For the first time manufacturers must ensure security across the entire product lifecycle, handle vulnerabilities and provide security updates.

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Since 11.09.2026, manufacturers of affected products with digital elements must report actively exploited vulnerabilities under Art. 14 CRA, with an early warning within 24 hours via ENISA's single reporting platform.

ISO/IEC 27001

ISO/IEC 27001 is the internationally leading standard for an information security management system (ISMS). It describes a risk-based, process-oriented framework to systematically plan, implement, review and improve information security.

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Control A.8.8, management of technical vulnerabilities: assess relevance to your systems, plan remediation and keep evidence.

Description

An unauthenticated Remote Code Execution vulnerability was found in the survey passthrough routing and Data Import processing logic, in which a malicious user could potentially exploit it by manipulating HTTP requests to access an unintended controller route from a public survey context and by supplying a crafted file-path/stream parameter during import handling. If successfully exploited, this could allow the attacker to remotely execute arbitrary code on the REDCap server. The attacker does not have to be authenticated in order to exploit this, but exploitation requires knowledge of a valid public survey hash. This vulnerability exists in REDCap 13.3.0 and higher.

Source: NVD (NIST), cvelistv5

Weakness classes (CWE)

• CWE-94Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')

  Base

  The product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment.

  Entry at MITRE CWE-94

• CWE-73External Control of File Name or Path

  Base

  The product allows user input to control or influence paths or file names that are used in filesystem operations.

  Entry at MITRE CWE-73

References & sources

• securifera.comadvisories

Changes to this CVE

Who changed this CVE and when: NVD (analysis, affected products, CVSS), the CVE publisher (CNA) and additional providers such as CISA (ADP).

1. 21.09.2026Record modifiedCISA ADP

   CISA assessment (SSVC): exploitation: none known, automatable: yes

   Show the original change

   Individual changes of this event as published by NVD

   Type	Action	Before	After
   SSVC assessment	added	—	{"id":"CVE-2026-90817","role":"CISA Coordinator","options":[{"exploitation":"none"},{"automatable":"yes"},{"technicalImpact":"total"}],"version":"2.0.3","timestamp":"2026-09-21T14:15:50.340719Z"}

   Source identifier: 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0

2. 20.09.2026Receivedsecurifera.com

   CVSS V3.1: AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

   Weakness type: CWE-94, CWE-73

   Description added or changed

   New references:

   • https://www.securifera.com/advisories/
   Show 6 original changes

   Individual changes of this event as published by NVD

   Type	Action	Before	After
   Description	added	—	An unauthenticated Remote Code Execution vulnerability was found in the survey passthrough routing and Data Import processing logic, in which a malicious user could potentially exploit it by manipulating HTTP requests to access an unintended controller route from a public survey context and by supplying a crafted file-path/stream parameter during import handling. If successfully exploited, this could allow the attacker to remotely execute arbitrary code on the REDCap server. The attacker does not have to be authenticated in order to exploit this, but exploitation requires knowledge of a valid public survey hash. This vulnerability exists in REDCap 13.3.0 and higher.
   CVSS	added	—	AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
   Weakness type (CWE)	added	—	CWE-94
   Weakness type (CWE)	added	—	CWE-73
   Affected versions (publisher)	added	—	New affected value received. <a href="https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/blob/main/cves/2026/90xxx/CVE-2026-90817.json">CVE-2026-90817</a>
   Reference	added	—	https://www.securifera.com/advisories/

   Source identifier: contact@securifera.com