Summary
@grpc/grpc-js: In certain configurations, getAuthContext can return unauthorized certificates as though they were authorized
Workarounds
@grpc/grpc-js users using getAuthContext this way can avoid this problem by setting requireClientCertificate to true. @grpc/grpc-js-xds users using RBAC can avoid this by setting the require_client_certificate field to true in the DownstreamTlsContext in the xDS configuration.
Impact
When server credentials are created with the requireClientCertificate option set to false, getAuthContext does not distinguish between authorized and unauthorized certificates in its return value. This can create improper authentication vulnerabilities for @grpc/grpc-js users who use the result of getAuthContext for authentication.
In particular, @grpc/grpc-js-xds can both set the requireClientCertificate option to false and use the return value of getAuthContext for RBAC authentication in some configurations.
CVE-2026-101916 has a CVSS score of 7.4 (High). The vector is network-reachable, no privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (1.13.6, 1.14.5); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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This vulenrability is fixed in 1.13.6 and 1.14.5.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2026-101916? CVE-2026-101916 is a high-severity security vulnerability in @grpc/grpc-js (npm), affecting versions < 1.13.6. It is fixed in 1.13.6, 1.14.5.
- How severe is CVE-2026-101916? CVE-2026-101916 has a CVSS score of 7.4 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Which versions of @grpc/grpc-js are affected by CVE-2026-101916? @grpc/grpc-js (npm) versions < 1.13.6 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2026-101916? Yes. CVE-2026-101916 is fixed in 1.13.6, 1.14.5. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2026-101916 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2026-101916 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2026-101916 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
- How do I fix CVE-2026-101916?
- Upgrade
@grpc/grpc-jsto 1.13.6 or later - Upgrade
@grpc/grpc-jsto 1.14.5 or later
- Upgrade