CVE-2026-28511: eLabFTW is an open source electronic lab notebook.

eLabFTW is an open source electronic lab notebook.

eLabFTW is an open source electronic lab notebook. Prior to version 5.4.2, in certain cases, an authenticated user performing a numeric reference/search can return results that include resources the requesting user is not authorized to view. The exposed information is limited (only the title). Attempts to access the underlying protected resource content remain blocked by authorization checks. Version 5.4.2 fixes the issue. # Affected Scope Cross-scope visibility of titles. No confirmed bypass of content-level access controls # Preconditions An authenticated user account No special privileges required beyond standard access # Impact This may enable unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information if confidential data is included in resource titles. Examples could include project names, patient identifiers, or other regulated information embedded in titles.

Description from the National Vulnerability Database, published by GitHub

What it means for a small business

If your business uses elabftw, install the vendor's update. If you're not sure whether you use it, ask whoever manages your computers.

How likely is an attack? The Exploit Prediction Scoring System, run by FIRST (the global association of security response teams), puts the odds of this one being exploited in the next 30 days at 0.19%, higher than 8% of CVEs. That’s low, but low isn’t zero, and the odds jump the day someone publishes an exploit. Scored October 29, 2026, updated daily.

Check your own setup

Website check: reads what your site runs from the outside (WordPress version, plugins it can see, old server software) and matches it against this database.
Server check: what your web server says about itself, and whether that version has known flaws.

Sources

Part of the Huttenlocher Technologies vulnerability database, refreshed twice a day from CISA and the NVD. The title, category and plain-language guidance are ours; check the linked record before acting on a detail. This is general guidance, not a review of your systems.

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