CVE-2026-14620: webpack-dev-server Vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery via Internal Developer Endpoints
Summary
CVE-2026-14620: webpack-dev-server vulnerable to cross-site request forgery via internal developer endpoints. Affects webpack-dev-server versions < 5.2.6. Fixed in 5.2.6. How to fix ↓
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Background
webpack-dev-server is a popular development server for webpack, providing live reloading and other features to enhance the development experience. It allows developers to serve their applications and see changes in real-time. However, it has a vulnerability that exposes internal endpoints to cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks, potentially compromising the developer's environment.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability arises from the internal endpoints '/webpack-dev-server/open-editor' and '/webpack-dev-server/invalidate', which perform state-changing actions on any GET request without verifying the request's origin. This means that any website a developer visits while the dev server is running can trigger these endpoints without any interaction from the developer. An attacker can exploit this to open arbitrary local files in the developer's editor, including sensitive files outside the project root, and can also spawn editor processes, leading to performance degradation on the developer's machine.
How To Fix
Latest published version: 6.1.0 as of 22 Oct 2026
npm install webpack-dev-server@6.1.0Upgrading to it may include breaking changes; the version below is the minimum fixed release for this vulnerability.
If you need the minimum change
5.2.6
This is the first release that contains the fix.
npm install webpack-dev-server@5.2.6Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
There are currently no workarounds available for this vulnerability. It is recommended to update to the patched version as soon as possible.
Conclusion
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-14620 in webpack-dev-server poses a significant risk due to its potential for cross-site request forgery. Developers are urged to update to version 5.2.6 or later to protect their environments from exploitation. Regular monitoring of dependencies using tools like Vulert can help maintain security.
See every vulnerability recorded for webpack-dev-server →
FAQ
The CVSS score of this vulnerability is 4.7, indicating a moderate severity level.
An attacker can open arbitrary files in the developer's editor and spawn editor processes, which can degrade the performance of the developer's machine.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
Currently, there are no workarounds available. The best course of action is to update to the patched version.
The affected versions of webpack-dev-server are those prior to 5.2.6.
References
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