CVE-2026-2274 Overview
A Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) and Arbitrary File Read vulnerability has been identified in AppSheet Core within Google AppSheet. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 2025-11-23 and allows an authenticated remote attacker to read sensitive local files and access internal network resources via crafted requests to the production cluster.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can leverage this vulnerability to access sensitive internal files and reach internal network resources that should not be externally accessible, potentially exposing confidential data and enabling lateral movement within Google's infrastructure.
Affected Products
- Google AppSheet Core (versions prior to 2025-11-23)
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-02-19 - CVE-2026-2274 published to NVD
- 2026-02-19 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-2274
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability combines two dangerous attack techniques: Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) and Arbitrary File Read. The flaw exists within the AppSheet Core component and can be exploited by an authenticated attacker through specially crafted requests sent to the production cluster.
The SSRF component allows attackers to force the server to make requests to internal resources that would normally be inaccessible from external networks. This can expose internal services, metadata endpoints, and other sensitive infrastructure components. Combined with the arbitrary file read capability, attackers can potentially access sensitive configuration files, credentials, and other protected data stored on the server.
The vulnerability is classified under CWE-918 (Server-Side Request Forgery), which describes scenarios where a web application fetches a remote resource based on user-supplied input without properly validating the destination.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of user-supplied input in AppSheet Core's request handling logic. The application fails to properly restrict the destinations that can be accessed when processing requests, allowing attackers to specify internal URLs, file paths, or other restricted resources. This lack of proper input validation enables both SSRF attacks against internal network resources and arbitrary file read operations on the local file system.
Attack Vector
The attack is network-based and requires authentication. An authenticated attacker can craft malicious requests that target the production cluster, manipulating request parameters to redirect server-side requests to internal resources or local file paths. The attacker could potentially:
- Access internal metadata services and cloud instance credentials
- Read sensitive configuration files containing secrets or API keys
- Scan and enumerate internal network services
- Exfiltrate sensitive data from internal systems
Since no verified code examples are available, the exploitation mechanism involves crafting HTTP requests with manipulated URL parameters or file path references that the AppSheet Core processes without adequate validation. For technical details, refer to the Google Developer Discussion.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-2274
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual outbound requests from AppSheet servers to internal IP ranges (e.g., 10.x.x.x, 172.16.x.x, 192.168.x.x, or cloud metadata endpoints like 169.254.169.254)
- Requests attempting to access local file paths such as /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, or application configuration files
- Anomalous authentication patterns followed by requests to non-standard endpoints
- Log entries indicating access attempts to internal URLs or file system resources
Detection Strategies
- Monitor server-side request logs for connections to internal IP addresses, localhost, or cloud metadata endpoints
- Implement network segmentation monitoring to detect unauthorized cross-segment communication
- Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SSRF patterns in request parameters
- Audit authentication logs for accounts making unusual requests to internal resources
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed logging for all AppSheet Core request handling and analyze for SSRF indicators
- Configure alerting on requests containing internal IP addresses or file path patterns
- Implement network flow monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns from AppSheet infrastructure
- Review and correlate authentication events with subsequent resource access patterns
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-2274
Immediate Actions Required
- Verify your Google AppSheet deployment is running version 2025-11-23 or later
- Review access logs for any suspicious activity that may indicate exploitation attempts
- Audit authenticated user accounts for any anomalous behavior
- Confirm with Google that your instance has received the automatic patch
Patch Information
Google has already patched this vulnerability, and no customer action is required. The patch was applied to all production instances as of 2025-11-23. Organizations should verify their deployment status through the Google Cloud Console or by contacting Google Support. Additional details are available in the Google Developer Discussion.
Workarounds
- Since Google has automatically patched this vulnerability, no workarounds are necessary
- Continue monitoring for any suspicious activity as a general security best practice
- Implement defense-in-depth measures such as network segmentation and access controls
- Review and restrict user permissions to minimize authenticated attack surface
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
