ervik.as
Back to CVE database

CVE-2026-59178

critical · CVSS 9.8Published 9/14/2026 at 07:17 PMCWE-306

ESPHome Device Builder Dashboard is a dashboard for the ESPHome home management software. Prior to version 1.0.12, the dashboard reads its a…

ESPHome Device Builder Dashboard is a dashboard for the ESPHome home management software. Prior to version 1.0.12, the dashboard reads its authentication credentials from `$ESPHOME_USERNAME` and `$ESPHOME_PASSWORD`. Earlier versions, and the legacy `esphome` dashboard, read the bare `$USERNAME` and `$PASSWORD` instead. When the env vars were renamed the bare names were dropped with no fallback, so an operator who had protected their dashboard with `USERNAME` / `PASSWORD` (as the older getting started guide documented) loses authentication on upgrade and the dashboard starts open to anyone who can reach its port. The issue is fixed in 1.0.12. The bare `$USERNAME` / `$PASSWORD` are accepted again as a deprecated fallback so previously protected instances stay protected across the upgrade without operator intervention, with a loud deprecation warning at startup directing operators to rename them to `$ESPHOME_USERNAME` / `$ESPHOME_PASSWORD`. The fallback is gated on `$PASSWORD` being set and is only adopted as a pair, so the OS provided `$USERNAME` is never read on its own and the original collision footgun stays closed. A lone bare `$PASSWORD` with no username still fails loud as a credential mismatch rather than starting unauthenticated. This restores compatibility rather than failing closed on the legacy names, because the priority is that an instance which was protected before the upgrade stays protected without the operator having to act; the deprecation warning plus a future removal handles the migration. Operators should migrate to the `$ESPHOME_*` names. The esphome container delivers the fix in the 2026.6.2 release, which bumps its pinned `esphome-device-builder` version to 1.0.12. Without upgrading, restore authentication immediately by setting the new env vars to the same values, on any affected version. Alternatively, do not expose the dashboard port to untrusted networks, and check the startup logs for the `WITHOUT AUTHENTICATION` banner to confirm whether a given instance is currently open.

Why it matters

Internet-facing
Not identified as a common internet-facing category
Exploitation likelihood
high
  • Remotely exploitable over the network — no physical or local access required
  • Low attack complexity — no special conditions needed to exploit
  • No authentication required
  • No user interaction needed — can be exploited automatically
Recommended mitigation

Apply the vendor patch as soon as it's available or already released.

This analysis is generated from structured CVSS vector data, CISA KEV cross-referencing, and vendor/product category rules — not a manual expert review. Treat it as a starting point, not a substitute for your own assessment.

CVSS Vector Breakdown

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack Vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges Req.
None
User Interaction
None

EU Vulnerability Database (ENISA)

EUVD ID
EUVD-2026-59178
View on EUVD

EUVD is ENISA's EU vulnerability database, still in beta. EPSS is a probabilistic exploitation-likelihood score, not a certainty.

View official CVE record

Stay Updated

New CVEs and vulnerability advisories are added continuously as they're disclosed. Subscribe via RSS to get every update the moment it's published — no email or account required.

Subscribe via RSS
Share Share
Advertisement