CVE-2026-49997

In SurrealDB, records can be connected as a graph: a RELATE statement creates an edge record between two node records. If either endpoint node is deleted, SurrealDB automatically removes the edge row to keep the graph consistent.

A user with permission to delete a node could also delete the edges connected to that node, even when the edge table's PERMISSIONS FOR delete clause should have stopped them.

The automatic edge removal (Document::purge_edges) ran with permissions disabled (opt.clone().with_perms(false)), so the edge table's PERMISSIONS FOR delete and PERMISSIONS FOR select clauses were never consulted. The removal step could also observe edge state that the edge's SELECT clause should have hidden.

Workarounds

• Restrict node DELETE permission to principals trusted to delete all connected edge records.
• Use namespace or database isolation as the primary boundary where edge-level PERMISSIONS is load-bearing for multi-tenant separation.

What an attacker can do:

• Delete any edge connected to a node they can delete, regardless of the edge table's PERMISSIONS FOR delete clause.
• Observe edge contents that PERMISSIONS FOR select should have hidden, as a side effect of the same edge-removal step.

What it can't do:

• Delete nodes on tables they do not hold DELETE on (the edge removal only runs from an authorised node delete).
• Cross namespace or database isolation boundaries.
• Escalate to root or operator-level privileges.

The application does not correctly enforce access controls, allowing a principal to access resources or operations beyond their granted permissions. Typical impact: unauthorized data access or execution of privileged operations.

CVE-2026-49997 has a CVSS score of 5.4 (Medium). The vector is network-reachable, low 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 (3.1.0); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.

Kodem intelligence

Document::purge_edges now propagates the caller's permission context into the edge removal. Each connected edge DELETE is evaluated against the edge table's PERMISSIONS FOR delete clause, matching a direct DELETE.

Versions 3.1.0 and later are not affected.

1. What is CVE-2026-49997? CVE-2026-49997 is a medium-severity incorrect authorization vulnerability in surrealdb (rust), affecting versions < 3.1.0. It is fixed in 3.1.0. The application does not correctly enforce access controls, allowing a principal to access resources or operations beyond their granted permissions.
2. How severe is CVE-2026-49997? CVE-2026-49997 has a CVSS score of 5.4 (Medium). 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.
3. Which versions of surrealdb are affected by CVE-2026-49997? surrealdb (rust) versions < 3.1.0 is affected.
4. Is there a fix for CVE-2026-49997? Yes. CVE-2026-49997 is fixed in 3.1.0. Upgrade to this version or later.
5. Is CVE-2026-49997 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2026-49997 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
6. What actually determines whether CVE-2026-49997 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.
7. How do I fix CVE-2026-49997? Upgrade surrealdb to 3.1.0 or later.