CVE-2026-61609: Pterodactyl is a free, open-source game server management panel. From 1.7.0 until 1.13.0, the authentication rate limiter defined in RouteServiceProvider::configureRateLimiting() a

highCVSS 7.5CVE-2026-61609

Pterodactyl is a free, open-source game server management panel. From 1.7.0 until 1.13.0, the authentication rate limiter defined in RouteServiceProvider::configureRateLimiting() applied a single global bucket to the login and two-factor checkpoint endpoints instead of keying by IP or account: the fall-through Limit::perMinute(10) covering POST /auth/login and POST /auth/login/checkpoint omitted ->by(), so Laravel derived a constant cache key (md5('authentication')) shared by every request. An unauthenticated attacker sending roughly ten requests per minute from a single IP, most cheaply against the checkpoint endpoint (which has no reCAPTCHA), exhausts the shared counter and causes HTTP 429 for every user attempting to log in or complete two-factor authentication, a panel-wide authentication denial of service that also locks out administrators. This issue is fixed in version 1.13.0.

Details

Source: NVD Recent CVEs (US · database · site)
Severity: high — CVSS 7.5
Published: 2026-07-28
Last updated: 2026-07-30
Exploitation: Not in CISA KEV at last sync

Original advisory: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-61609

Exploitation outlook

EPSS (FIRST.org) estimates each CVE’s probability of exploitation in the next 30 days — here is the CSIRTS.com read on those numbers.

Low exploitation riskCVE-2026-616090.39% 30-day exploitation probability — currently an unlikely target, but scores change as exploit code circulates. Riskier than 32% of all scored CVEs.

Referenced CVEs

CVE	CSIRTS overview	External
CVE-2026-61609	coverage & exploitation status	NVD · CVE.org

Same CVEs, other sources

How other CERTs, PSIRTs and databases cover the vulnerabilities in this advisory.

highGHSA-xvc3-826v-xf47: Pterodactyl's shared global rate-limit key on login and 2FA checkpoint enables unauthenti…ghsa

Recent advisories for Pterodactyl is a

A cluster of recent advisories against the same product widens the attack surface — attackers routinely chain freshly published CVEs on one product, so review these together.

highCVE-2026-52856: Wings is the server control plane for Pterodactyl, a free, open-source game server management …nvd · 2026-07-31
criticalCVE-2026-52855: Wings is the server control plane for Pterodactyl, a free, open-source game server management …nvd · 2026-07-31
mediumCVE-2026-52857: Wings is the server control plane for Pterodactyl, a free, open-source game server management …nvd · 2026-07-31
highCVE-2026-54593: Pterodactyl is a free, open-source game server management panel. Prior to Panel version 1.12.3…nvd · 2026-07-28
highGHSA-8r6w-3qq5-4p4r: Pterodactyl's improper JWT scoping allows subuser to upload files when not explicitly gra…ghsa · 2026-07-28
highGHSA-xvc3-826v-xf47: Pterodactyl's shared global rate-limit key on login and 2FA checkpoint enables unauthenti…ghsa · 2026-07-28