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Barracuda ESG EUVDEUVD-2026-115149

| CVE-2026-116606 CRITICAL
Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel (CWE-288)
2026-11-02 Mandiant GHSA-9fcr-mp7p-hprv
9.3
CVSS 4.0 · Vendor: Mandiant
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Reach appliance management interface
  2. Delivery
    Submit crafted compatible backup archive
  3. Exploit
    Bypass authentication on config-import function
  4. Execution
    Restore archive overwriting global config
  5. Impact
    Gain unauthorized control of appliance

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A07:2025 - Authentication Failures
ASVS 5.0
V6 - Authentication Alternate path authentication
Exploitation Conditions

The attacker must be able to reach the Barracuda ESG appliance's management/web interface over the network and invoke its configuration-import (backup-restore) function; the authentication bypass means no credentials are required (PR:N). The one concrete prerequisite is supplying a crafted backup archive that is compatible with the target appliance's firmware, so it is accepted and restored. Limiting factors: only versions earlier than 9.4.0.030 are affected, and the attacker needs knowledge of a valid/compatible backup-archive format rather than an arbitrary payload. No user interaction or non-default configuration is required according to the available data.

Impact

This is a genuine high priority, not a high-CVSS-but-low-risk case. The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N, score 9.3) describes a fully remote, unauthenticated, low-complexity attack with no user interaction and high impact to confidentiality, integrity and availability of the appliance (VC:H/VI:H/VA:H), consistent with CWE-288 authentication bypass. The vuln.today decision label is act_now and the flaw was reported by Mandiant, a credible source, which reinforces urgency. However, the input provides no CISA KEV entry, no EPSS probability, and no confirmed proof-of-concept/exploit code - the two references are a Mandiant disclosure page and a Barracuda advisory, i.e. vendor/researcher advisories rather than verified working exploit code. So severity and exploitability signals are high and mutually consistent, but there is no evidence in the supplied data of active exploitation; status is 'no public exploit identified at time of analysis.' One real-world mitigating nuance: the attacker must supply a crafted backup archive that is compatible with the target firmware, which is a modest technical prerequisite rather than a true barrier. Given Barracuda ESG's history as a targeted appliance and the act_now label, treat patching to 9.4.0.030 as urgent.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker with network access to the ESG appliance's management interface invokes the configuration-import function without authenticating, bypassing access control (CWE-288). They upload a crafted but version-compatible backup archive that, once restored, overwrites the appliance's global configuration - for example adding an administrative account, disabling mail-security controls, or redirecting mail flow. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, but the attack is network-based, low-complexity, and requires no user interaction.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: CRITICAL severity.
Patch available

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AnalysisAIv1 – Nov 02, 2026

Unauthenticated remote attackers can bypass authentication in Barracuda Email Security Gateway (ESG) deployments earlier than 9.4.0.030 and reach the configuration-import function, where restoring a crafted but compatible backup archive modifies the appliance's global configuration. The flaw is rated CVSS 9.3 and an independent assessment scores it CVSS:3.1 9.8 with network-only, no-credential access; the only stated prerequisite is a backup archive compatible with the target firmware. No public exploit code was identified in the available sources at time of analysis, but the act_now priority and Mandiant reporting make prompt upgrade to 9.4.0.030 the appropriate response.

RemediationAI

Vendor-released patch: 9.4.0.030. Upgrade Barracuda Email Security Gateway to 9.4.0.030 or later; this is the fixed version boundary identified in the supplied data. Review the vendor advisory at https://trust.barracuda.com/security/pre-authentication-authorization-bypass-command-injection and the Mandiant disclosure at https://github.com/mandiant/Vulnerability-Disclosures/blob/master/2026/MNDT-2026-0042.md for installation guidance and any additional detail. No separate workaround or compensating control is specified in the available sources, so completing the upgrade is the documented remediation path.

Affected VersionsENISA

Barracuda Email Security Gateway (ESG) 0 <9.4.0.030

Affected Packages

euvd barracuda_email_security_gateway_esg fix: 9.4.0.030

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in euvd

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

CVE-2026-116606 is classified as CWE-288 (Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel): the configuration-import/backup-restore workflow, which should be an authenticated administrative function, can be invoked without credentials. The CVSS 4.0 vector is AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact, and the independent assessment is consistent with network-reachable, unauthenticated exploitation. The CPE identifies Barracuda Networks Barracuda Email Security Gateway (ESG) as the affected product; all versions before 9.4.0.030 are in scope. Successful exploitation requires a crafted backup archive that is compatible with the target appliance's firmware so that it is accepted and restored, after which the attacker can make unauthorized changes to the global configuration. The available sources do not describe the precise parsing or validation weakness inside the archive handling beyond that requirement. The vendor advisory URL references a pre-authentication authorization bypass and command injection, while the CVE description and independent assessment focus on the configuration-import path; details of any additional command-execution primitive are not confirmed in the supplied data.

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Severity by source

Vendor (Mandiant) PRIMARY 9.3 CRITICAL
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
vuln.today AI 9.8 CRITICAL

Unauthenticated network-reachable config-import with no user interaction gives AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N; full control of the appliance's global configuration yields C:H/I:H/A:H, and impact stays within the appliance so S:U.

3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (Mandiant).

CVSS VectorVendor: Mandiant

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Requirements
None
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Vulnerable system: Confidentiality
High
Vulnerable system: Integrity
High
Vulnerable system: Availability
High
Subsequent system: Confidentiality
None
Subsequent system: Integrity
None
Subsequent system: Availability
None

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Patch available
Nov 02, 2026 - 14:01 EUVD
CVE Published
Nov 02, 2026 - 12:59 cve.org
CRITICAL 9.3

DescriptionCVE.org

An authentication bypass in Barracuda Email Security Gateway versions earlier than 9.4.0.030 allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to invoke a configuration-import function and restore a crafted, compatible backup archive, resulting in unauthorized modification of the appliance’s global configuration.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

Barracuda Email Security Gateway (ESG) deployments earlier than 9.4.0.030 contain a critical authentication bypass that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to alter the appliance's global configuration via a crafted backup archive. This puts email security controls at risk, potentially enabling attackers to intercept, modify, or block email traffic and exfiltrate sensitive data, which could affect all users and undermine trust in email communications. Leadership should prioritize immediate patching to prevent potential business disruption and data loss.

Business Impact: Severe
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

Prevalence
Medium
specific vendor email-security appliance, not universally deployed
Data Quality
4 sources
Confidence: Medium

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity CRITICAL
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS N/A
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
CRITICAL severity
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Out-of-Cycle
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
Yes
Human Impact
Very High

Priority Score

46
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +46
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Authentication bypass attacks exploit flaws in the verification mechanisms that control access to systems and applications.

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