CVE-2026-55493

HotCRP: comment-author search exposes anonymous commenter identities

MEDIUM
6.5
CVSS Score
Published: October 30, 2026 at 07:25 PM UTC
Updated: November 2, 2026 at 07:35 PM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorHotCRP

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Severity
MEDIUM6.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.3%

Description

HotCRP is conference review software. Starting with 2.101, the `cmt:` search term checks whether a comment is visible to the searching user but fails to check whether the commenter's identity should be visible. A `cmt:USER` search can therefore match a paper with a visible comment authored by USER even when the comment is supposed to be anonymous. An authenticated user with access to the search can infer the author of an anonymous comment, compromising reviewer anonymity. Comments that the user cannot see remain excluded from search results. The advisory prose identifies 3.3 as fixed, its affected-version metadata excludes 3.3, and the verified repository tag 3.3 already contains the identity-check fix; however, its patched-version metadata instead lists 3.3.1. This fixed-version source conflict remains unresolved.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

2.101 ≤ v < 3.32.101

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet, and no fixed version or vendor advisory is recorded against it.

CVSS

6.5MEDIUMGitHub_M
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
NONE
Availability
NONE
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusDEFERRED
CWE
CWE-863

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