CVE-2026-33621: medium-severity vulnerability in pinchtab
PinchTab: Unapplied Rate Limiting Middleware Allows Unbounded Brute-Force of API Token
Published · Updated
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13Vexday Risk Score
No sign of exploitation. No public exploitation artifact known so far.
ssvc Trackcvss 4.8epss 0.3%
PinchTab is a standalone HTTP server that gives AI agents direct control over a Chrome browser. PinchTab `v0.7.7` through `v0.8.4` contain incomplete request-throttling protections for auth-checkable endpoints. In `v0.7.7` through `v0.8.3`, a fully implemented `RateLimitMiddleware` existed in `internal/handlers/middleware.go` but was not inserted into the production HTTP handler chain, so requests were not subject to the intended per-IP throttle. In the same pre-`v0.8.4` range, the original limiter also keyed clients using `X-Forwarded-For`, which would have allowed client-controlled header spoofing if the middleware had been enabled. `v0.8.4` addressed those two issues by wiring the limiter into the live handler chain and switching the key to the immediate peer IP, but it still exempted `/health` and `/metrics` from rate limiting even though `/health` remained an auth-checkable endpoint when a token was configured. This issue weakens defense in depth for deployments where an attacker can reach the API, especially if a weak human-chosen token is used. It is not a direct authentication bypass or token disclosure issue by itself. PinchTab is documented as local-first by default and uses `127.0.0.1` plus a generated random token in the recommended setup. PinchTab's default deployment model is a local-first, user-controlled environment between the user and their agents; wider exposure is an intentional operator choice. This lowers practical risk in the default configuration, even though it does not by itself change the intrinsic base characteristics of the bug. This was fully addressed in `v0.8.5` by applying `RateLimitMiddleware` in the production handler chain, deriving the client address from the immediate peer IP instead of trusting forwarded headers by default, and removing the `/health` and `/metrics` exemption so auth-checkable endpoints are throttled as well.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
Affected products
pinchtab · pinchtabRelated CVEs — pinchtab
In the same product, most dangerous first.
CVE-2026-33623MEDIUMPinchTab: OS Command Injection via Profile Name in Windows Cleanup Routine Enables Arbitrary Command ExecutionEPSS 3.0%CVE-2026-33622MEDIUMA PinchTab Security Policy Bypass in /wait Allows Arbitrary JavaScript ExecutionEPSS 0.5%CVE-2026-30834HIGHPinchTab: SSRF with Full Response Exfiltration via Download HandlerEPSS 0.5%CVE-2026-33081MEDIUMPinchTab has Blind SSRF via browser-side redirect bypass in /download URL validationEPSS 0.3%CVE-2026-33620MEDIUMPinchTab: API Bearer Token Exposed in URL Query Parameter via Server Logs and Intermediary SystemsEPSS 0.3%CVE-2026-33619MEDIUMPinchTab has Unauthenticated Blind SSRF in Task Scheduler via Unvalidated callbackUrlEPSS 0.3%