# CVE-2026-46487: GeoNetwork: ACL bypass on Elasticsearch search when request body omits query field

Status: published. Published: 2026-11-03. Updated: 2026-11-03.

GeoNetwork is a catalog application to manage spatially referenced resources. From 4.0.0-alpha.1 until 4.2.16 and 4.4.11, the Elasticsearch-backed search proxy can skip GeoNetwork's access-control filter injection when a client request has an omitted query field. The request is then forwarded to Elasticsearch without group visibility, draft exclusion, record ownership, or portal-specific filtering. An unauthenticated remote attacker can use the affected public search API to retrieve the full indexed contents of metadata records that should not be publicly visible. This issue is fixed in versions 4.2.16 and 4.4.11.

## Remediation

- fix: org.geonetwork-opensource:geonetwork (maven): GitHub reports patched versions 4.2.16. Check the advisory for the affected release branch. (source: GitHub GHSA-582q-v28r-7cxr) — https://github.com/geonetwork/core-geonetwork/security/advisories/GHSA-582q-v28r-7cxr
- fix: org.geonetwork-opensource:geonetwork (maven): GitHub reports patched versions 4.4.11. Check the advisory for the affected release branch. (source: GitHub GHSA-582q-v28r-7cxr) — https://github.com/geonetwork/core-geonetwork/security/advisories/GHSA-582q-v28r-7cxr
- fix: org.geonetwork-opensource:geonetwork (Maven): OSV reports a fixed version 4.2.16. Check the advisory for supported release branches. (source: OSV GHSA-582q-v28r-7cxr) — https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-582q-v28r-7cxr
- fix: org.geonetwork-opensource:geonetwork (Maven): OSV reports a fixed version 4.4.11. Check the advisory for supported release branches. (source: OSV GHSA-582q-v28r-7cxr) — https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-582q-v28r-7cxr

## Affected products and versions

- geonetwork / core-geonetwork: >= 4.0.0-alpha.1, <= 4.0.6-0 (affected); >= 4.2.0, < 4.2.16 (affected); >= 4.4.0, < 4.4.11 (affected). Source: CNA: GitHub_M
-  / org.geonetwork-opensource:geonetwork (org.geonetwork-opensource:geonetwork): >= 4.0.0-alpha.1, <= 4.0.6-0 (affected, GitHub advisory range). Source: GitHub GHSA-582q-v28r-7cxr
-  / org.geonetwork-opensource:geonetwork (org.geonetwork-opensource:geonetwork): >= 4.2.0, <= 4.2.15 (affected, GitHub advisory range). Source: GitHub GHSA-582q-v28r-7cxr
-  / org.geonetwork-opensource:geonetwork (org.geonetwork-opensource:geonetwork): >= 4.4.0, <= 4.4.10-0 (affected, GitHub advisory range). Source: GitHub GHSA-582q-v28r-7cxr
-  / org.geonetwork-opensource:geonetwork (org.geonetwork-opensource:geonetwork): Ecosystem version events: introduced 4.0.0-alpha.1; last affected 4.0.6-0. Source: OSV GHSA-582q-v28r-7cxr
-  / org.geonetwork-opensource:geonetwork (org.geonetwork-opensource:geonetwork): Ecosystem version events: introduced 4.2.0; fixed 4.2.16. Source: OSV GHSA-582q-v28r-7cxr
-  / org.geonetwork-opensource:geonetwork (org.geonetwork-opensource:geonetwork): Ecosystem version events: introduced 4.4.0; fixed 4.4.11. Source: OSV GHSA-582q-v28r-7cxr

## Severity and prioritization

- CVSS 3.1: 7.5 (high); CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N; source: CNA: GitHub_M

- CVSS 3.1: 7.5 (high); CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N; source: NVD: security-advisories@github.com

- CISA KEV: No listing in collected sources

- EPSS: Not available

- SSVC: Not available

- Weaknesses: CWE-862

## Exploit evidence

No exploit evidence in collected sources. This is not proof of no exploitation.

## References

- https://github.com/geonetwork/core-geonetwork/security/advisories/GHSA-582q-v28r-7cxr (CNA: GitHub_M; x_refsource_CONFIRM)

- https://github.com/geonetwork/core-geonetwork/commit/1916412d38999f2eff68bad2dfccd69340d20f3f (CNA: GitHub_M; x_refsource_MISC)

- https://github.com/geonetwork/core-geonetwork/commit/6c756c63cd1fa942f3832d99c64380c69c5e8be9 (CNA: GitHub_M; x_refsource_MISC)

- https://github.com/geonetwork/core-geonetwork/releases/tag/4.2.16 (CNA: GitHub_M; x_refsource_MISC)

- https://github.com/geonetwork/core-geonetwork/releases/tag/4.4.11 (CNA: GitHub_M; x_refsource_MISC)

- https://github.com/geonetwork/core-geonetwork/commit/1916412d38999f2eff68bad2dfccd69340d20f3f (security-advisories@github.com)

- https://github.com/geonetwork/core-geonetwork/commit/6c756c63cd1fa942f3832d99c64380c69c5e8be9 (security-advisories@github.com)

- https://github.com/geonetwork/core-geonetwork/releases/tag/4.2.16 (security-advisories@github.com)

- https://github.com/geonetwork/core-geonetwork/releases/tag/4.4.11 (security-advisories@github.com)

- https://github.com/geonetwork/core-geonetwork/security/advisories/GHSA-582q-v28r-7cxr (security-advisories@github.com)

- https://github.com/geonetwork/core-geonetwork/security/advisories/GHSA-582q-v28r-7cxr (GitHub Security Advisories; advisory)

- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-582q-v28r-7cxr (OSV / GitHub Security Advisories; advisory)

- https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-582q-v28r-7cxr (OSV / GitHub Security Advisories; osv)

## Provenance

- CNA: GitHub_M: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-46487; retrieved 2026-11-03; source updated 2026-11-03

- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-46487; retrieved 2026-11-04; source updated 2026-11-03

- GitHub Security Advisories: https://github.com/geonetwork/core-geonetwork/security/advisories/GHSA-582q-v28r-7cxr; retrieved 2026-11-04; source updated 2026-07-01

- OSV / GitHub Security Advisories: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-582q-v28r-7cxr; retrieved 2026-11-03; source updated 2026-07-01

Revision: 3bde24e77f23a397e8560dbc8adb3b4f043fe50cb5ea022c2cb638577e296d49

Canonical: https://y2.dev/cve/CVE-2026-46487

## Agent and API access

Public CVE pages, Markdown, and JSON are free to read without an account or API key.

- Public catalog: https://y2.dev/cve/index.json. Follow nextCursor with the same search, filters, sort, and limit (1–100). A null cursor marks the end.

- WebMCP: search_cve_disclosures, get_cve_disclosure, get_cve_page_markdown, get_y2_cve_access. Available in compatible browsers.

- Cyber API: https://api.y2.dev/api/v2/cyber/cves and https://api.y2.dev/api/v2/cyber/cves/{cveId}.

- Y2 Pro or Elite: create a workspace API key with the intel:cyber scope and send Authorization: Bearer <Y2_API_KEY>. Setup: https://y2.dev/docs/api/create-key.

- x402: Pay per request without an account or API key. Omit Authorization, read the HTTP 402 PAYMENT-REQUIRED challenge, validate its current requirements, and retry with PAYMENT-SIGNATURE through an authorized payment client. These browser tools never make payments. Guide: https://y2.dev/docs/api/x402.

- OpenAPI: https://y2.dev/api/openapi.yaml. Agent access metadata: https://y2.dev/cve/agent.json.

Collected public records only. Check source status for coverage and freshness.