CVE-2026-53870

Hermes Agent < 0.16.0 - Sensitive File Permission Vulnerability in Store Files

Published Jun 17, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 6.8 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed

Description

Hermes Agent before 0.16.0 creates response_store.db and webhook_subscriptions.json with world-readable permissions (mode 0o644), exposing conversation history and HMAC secrets to local users. Attackers with local filesystem access can read these files directly to obtain sensitive data including conversation history, tool payloads, prompts, and per-route HMAC secrets.

Analysis

Technical impact

Hermes Agent prior to version 0.16.0 creates the files response_store.db and webhook_subscriptions.json with world‑readable permissions (mode 0o644). This allows any local system user to read conversation histories, tool payloads, prompts, and per‑route HMAC secrets, compromising the confidentiality of the data processed by the agent.

Affected Systems

The vulnerability affects the NousResearch Hermes Agent product. Any deployment of Hermes Agent before version 0.16.0 is susceptible; specific releases such as v2026.6.5 are included. Users must verify whether their installation falls within this range and upgrade accordingly.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score of 6.8 classifies the flaw as moderate severity. The EPSS score of less than 1% indicates a low probability of exploitation in the wild, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog. Attackers require local filesystem access, so the likely scenario is a compromised or shared environment where a non‑privileged user could read the affected files. The flaw does not enable remote code execution, but it exposes sensitive data that could be leveraged downstream.

Affected Products

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions

NousResearch

hermes-agent

unaffected

Version	Status	Constraints
`0`	affected	< 0.16.0
`0.16.0`	unaffected	—

No data.

Vendor Product Versions

Nousresearch

Hermes-agent

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[0,0.16.0)`	affected	semver	—
`0.16.0`	unaffected	semver	—

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

Upgrade Hermes Agent to version 0.16.0 or later to eliminate the permission issue.
If an immediate upgrade is not possible, adjust the file permissions of response_store.db and webhook_subscriptions.json to 0o600 or otherwise remove world‑readable access after deployment.
Run the agent within an isolated container or dedicated user account with restricted filesystem permissions to reduce the impact of local read access.
Regularly audit the permissions of the store files to ensure they remain secure.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on June 18, 2026 at 19:19 UTC.

Tracking

Advisories

Source	ID	Title
Github GHSA	GHSA-99f9-j8r3-p853	Hermes Agent creates response_store.db and webhook_subscriptions.json with world-readable permissions (mode 0o644)

Metrics

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required Low

Attack Requirements None

User Interaction None

Vulnerable System Confidentiality Impact High

Vulnerable System Integrity Impact None

Vulnerable System Availability Impact None

Subsequent System Confidentiality Impact None

Subsequent System Integrity Impact None

Subsequent System Availability Impact None

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required Low

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact High

Integrity Impact None

Availability Impact None

User Interaction None

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

Exploit prediction score: < 1% (0.160% probability within 30 days)

Exploitation poc

Automatable no

Technical Impact partial

References

Link	Providers
https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/commit/3bace071bfadf2d2bec2ee048471a31ec920e3e8
https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30917
https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31469
https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/releases/tag/v2026.6.5
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/hermes-agent-sensitive-file-permission-vulnerability-in-store-files

History

Jun 18, 2026 8:45 PM First appearance in the feed. Affected vendors updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
First Time appeared		Nousresearch Nousresearch hermes-agent
Vendors & Products		Nousresearch Nousresearch hermes-agent

Jun 18, 2026 4:45 AM Description updated. Title updated. Weaknesses updated. Added references. Scoring metrics updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Description		Hermes Agent before 0.16.0 creates response_store.db and webhook_subscriptions.json with world-readable permissions (mode 0o644), exposing conversation history and HMAC secrets to local users. Attackers with local filesystem access can read these files directly to obtain sensitive data including conversation history, tool payloads, prompts, and per-route HMAC secrets.
Title		Hermes Agent < 0.16.0 - Sensitive File Permission Vulnerability in Store Files
Weaknesses		CWE-276
References		https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/commit/3bace071bfadf2d2bec2ee048471a31ec920e3e8 https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30917 https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31469 https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/releases/tag/v2026.6.5 https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/hermes-agent-sensitive-file-permission-vulnerability-in-store-files
Metrics		cvssV3_1 `{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N'}` cvssV4_0 `{'score': 6.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}` ssvc `{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}`