---
id: CVE-2026-118598
title: >-
  epiphany: clipboard/website-data permission prompt incorrectly grants camera
  and microphone access
summary: >-
  A logic error in Epiphany's site permission handling can cause camera and
  microphone access to be granted when the user only approves a different
  permission.


  In src/ephy-window.c, set_permission() stores the user's Allow/Deny choice
  aft…
severity: medium
cvss: 6.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N'
cvssSource: cna
cwe:
  - CWE-863
vendor: GNOME
product: epiphany
affected:
  - epiphany >= 45.0 < *
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: partial
  timestamp: '2026-11-06T13:49:40.269026Z'
published: '2026-10-31'
updated: '2026-11-06'
sourceUpdated: '2026-11-06T13:49:49.339Z'
source: CVEORG
sourceUrl: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-118598'
references:
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-118598'
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2562956'
    label: RHBZ#2562956
  - url: 'https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/epiphany/-/work_items/2976'
  - url: 'https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/epiphany/-/merge_requests/2249'
tags:
  - cve.org
epss: 0.00469
epssPercentile: 0.40753
ingestedAt: '2026-11-05T16:24:31.539Z'
---

## Overview

A logic error in Epiphany's site permission handling can cause camera and microphone access to be granted when the user only approves a different permission.

In src/ephy-window.c, set_permission() stores the user's Allow/Deny choice after a WebKit permission dialog. Types CLIPBOARD and WEBSITE_DATA_ACCESS are not stored by ephy_permission_is_stored_by_permissions_manager(), so control fell into an else-if that was written as:

  } else if (EPHY_PERMISSION_TYPE_ACCESS_WEBCAM_AND_MICROPHONE) {

Because that expression is a non-zero enum constant, the branch always ran for those types and wrote EPHY_PERMISSION_PERMIT for both ACCESS_WEBCAM and ACCESS_MICROPHONE for the site origin. The user only saw a Clipboard or Website Data Access dialog.

A malicious site that obtains approval for clipboard or third-party storage access can afterwards use getUserMedia without a further camera/microphone prompt, exposing audiovisual confidentiality.

Requirements: the victim must visit a malicious page and click Allow on a clipboard or website-data-access prompt.

Affected: Epiphany >= 45.0 (bug present at least through 51.x).
Fixed: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/epiphany/-/merge_requests/2249 (commit 480c3648).
Upstream: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/epiphany/-/work_items/2976
Reporter acknowledgment: Fernando Munoz

## Affected

- `epiphany >= 45.0 < *`

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.

### Workarounds

Do not approve Clipboard or Website Data Access prompts on untrusted sites. Review and revoke camera and microphone site permissions in Epiphany (site permissions / privacy settings) for any origin where those prompts were accepted. Prefer browsing untrusted content with media devices disconnected or disabled at the OS level. Upgrade to a fixed Epiphany build containing MR !2249 / commit 480c3648 when available for your stream.