Authentication Bypass
Authentication bypass attacks exploit flaws in the verification mechanisms that control access to systems and applications.
How It Works
Authentication bypass attacks exploit flaws in the verification mechanisms that control access to systems and applications. Instead of cracking passwords through brute force, attackers manipulate the authentication process itself to gain unauthorized entry. This typically occurs through one of several pathways: exploiting hardcoded credentials embedded in source code or configuration files, manipulating parameters in authentication requests to skip verification steps, or leveraging broken session management that fails to properly validate user identity.
The attack flow often begins with reconnaissance to identify authentication endpoints and their underlying logic. Attackers may probe for default administrative credentials that were never changed, test whether certain URL paths bypass login requirements entirely, or intercept and modify authentication tokens to escalate privileges. In multi-step authentication processes, flaws in state management can allow attackers to complete only partial verification steps while still gaining full access.
More sophisticated variants exploit single sign-on (SSO) or OAuth implementations where misconfigurations in trust relationships allow attackers to forge authentication assertions. Parameter tampering—such as changing a "role=user" field to "role=admin" in a request—can trick poorly designed systems into granting elevated access without proper verification.
Impact
- Complete account takeover — attackers gain full control of user accounts, including administrative accounts, without knowing legitimate credentials
- Unauthorized data access — ability to view, modify, or exfiltrate sensitive information including customer data, financial records, and intellectual property
- System-wide compromise — admin-level access enables installation of backdoors, modification of security controls, and complete infrastructure takeover
- Lateral movement — bypassed authentication provides a foothold for moving deeper into networks and accessing additional systems
- Compliance violations — unauthorized access triggers breach notification requirements and regulatory penalties
Real-World Examples
CrushFTP suffered a critical authentication bypass allowing attackers to access file-sharing functionality without any credentials. The vulnerability enabled direct server-side template injection, leading to remote code execution on affected systems. Attackers actively exploited this in the wild to establish persistent access to enterprise file servers.
Palo Alto's Expedition migration tool contained a flaw permitting attackers to reset administrative credentials without authentication. This allowed complete takeover of the migration environment, potentially exposing network configurations and security policies being transferred between systems.
SolarWinds Web Help Desk (CVE-2024-28987) shipped with hardcoded internal credentials that could not be changed through normal administrative functions. Attackers discovering these credentials gained full administrative access to helpdesk systems containing sensitive organizational information and user data.
Mitigation
- Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) — requires attackers to compromise additional verification factors beyond bypassed primary authentication
- Eliminate hardcoded credentials — use secure credential management systems and rotate all default credentials during deployment
- Enforce authentication on all endpoints — verify every request requires valid authentication; no "hidden" administrative paths should exist
- Implement proper session management — use cryptographically secure session tokens, validate on server-side, enforce timeout policies
- Apply principle of least privilege — limit damage by ensuring even authenticated users only access necessary resources
- Regular security testing — conduct penetration testing specifically targeting authentication logic and flows
Recent CVEs (37834)
OpenClinic GA versions 5.09.02 and 5.89.05b may allow an attacker to bypass client-side access controls or use a crafted request to initiate a session with limited functionality, which may allow. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
OpenClinic GA versions 5.09.02 and 5.89.05b may allow an attacker to bypass the system’s account lockout protection, which may allow brute force password attacks. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Huawei Honor V30 smartphones with versions earlier than 10.1.0.212(C00E210R5P1) have an improper authentication vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Grundfos CIM 500 before v06.16.00 responds to unauthenticated requests for password storage files. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In jupyterhub-kubespawner before 0.12, certain usernames will be able to craft particular server names which will grant them access to the default server of other users who have matching usernames. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
In onCommand of CompanionDeviceManagerService.java, there is a possible permissions bypass due to a missing permission check. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. This Missing Authorization vulnerability could allow attackers to access resources or perform actions without proper authorization checks.
In getUiccCardsInfo of PhoneInterfaceManager.java, there is a possible permissions bypass due to improper input validation. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. This Missing Authorization vulnerability could allow attackers to access resources or perform actions without proper authorization checks.
Graylog before 3.3.3 lacks SSL Certificate Validation for LDAP servers. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
The kramdown gem before 2.3.0 for Ruby processes the template option inside Kramdown documents by default, which allows unintended read access (such as template="/etc/passwd") or unintended embedded. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. This Missing Authorization vulnerability could allow attackers to access resources or perform actions without proper authorization checks.
userfiles/modules/users/controller/controller.php in Microweber before 1.1.20 allows an unauthenticated user to disclose the users database via a /modules/ POST request. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco SD-WAN vManage Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to inject arbitrary commands that are executed with root privileges. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability in URL filtering of Cisco Content Security Management Appliance (SMA) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass URL filtering on an affected device. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability in the Telnet service of Cisco Small Business RV110W Wireless-N VPN Firewall Routers could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to take full control of the device with a. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability in the API subsystem of Cisco Meetings App could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to retain and reuse the Traversal Using Relay NAT (TURN) server credentials that are. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business RV110W and RV215W Series Routers could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to download sensitive information from. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of the Cisco RV110W Wireless-N VPN Firewall, RV130 VPN Router, RV130W Wireless-N Multifunction VPN Router, and RV215W Wireless-N VPN Router could. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability in the web management interface of Cisco Prime License Manager (PLM) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to gain unauthorized access to an affected device. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
ConnectWise Automate through 2020.x has insufficient validation on certain authentication paths, allowing authentication bypass via a series of attempts. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
IRC5 exposes an ftp server (port 21). Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
The IRC5 family with UAS service enabled comes by default with credentials that can be found on publicly available manuals. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An issue was discovered in drivers/acpi/acpi_configfs.c in the Linux kernel before 5.7.7. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.7), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. This Missing Authorization vulnerability could allow attackers to access resources or perform actions without proper authorization checks.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Configuration Manager product of Oracle Enterprise Manager (component: Discovery and collection script). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Data Masking and Subsetting product of Oracle Enterprise Manager (component: Data Masking). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the Enterprise Manager Base Platform product of Oracle Enterprise Manager (component: Enterprise Config Management). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Database - Enterprise Edition component of Oracle Database Server. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Application Express component of Oracle Database Server. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.6), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Application Express component of Oracle Database Server. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Application Express component of Oracle Database Server. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Application Express component of Oracle Database Server. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Application Express component of Oracle Database Server. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Application Express component of Oracle Database Server. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the Oracle WebLogic Server product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: Web Services). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the Oracle WebLogic Server product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: Console). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Jenkins Gitlab Authentication Plugin 1.5 and earlier does not perform group authorization checks properly, resulting in a privilege escalation vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Help Technologies product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: Web UIX). Rated high severity (CVSS 8.2), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Internet Expenses product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Mobile Expenses Admin Utilities). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Internet Expenses product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Mobile Expenses Admin Utilities). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Common Applications product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: CRM User Management Framework). Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Common Applications product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: CRM User Management Framework). Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.0), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Customer Management and Segmentation Foundation product of Oracle Retail Applications (component: Security). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Customer Management and Segmentation Foundation product of Oracle Retail Applications (component: Card). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Customer Management and Segmentation Foundation product of Oracle Retail Applications (component: Segment). Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management product of Oracle Construction and Engineering (component: Web Access). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.0), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.0), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3). No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3). No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle BI Publisher product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: Layout Templates). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.2), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3). No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3). No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Insurance Accounting Analyzer product of Oracle Financial Services Applications (component: User Interface). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Financial Services Loan Loss Forecasting and Provisioning product of Oracle Financial Services Applications (component: User Interface). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Financial Services Liquidity Risk Management product of Oracle Financial Services Applications (component: User Interface). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: Analytics Actions). Rated high severity (CVSS 8.2), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Common Applications product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: CRM User Management Framework). Rated high severity (CVSS 8.2), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle iSupport product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Others). Rated high severity (CVSS 8.2), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Financial Services Analytical Applications Infrastructure product of Oracle Financial Services Applications (component: Infrastructure). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Financial Services Analytical Applications Infrastructure product of Oracle Financial Services Applications (component: Infrastructure). Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Depot Repair product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Estimate and Actual Charges). Rated high severity (CVSS 8.2), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle E-Business Intelligence product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: DBI Setups). Rated high severity (CVSS 8.2), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3). No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Advanced Outbound Telephony product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: User Interface). Rated high severity (CVSS 8.2), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Advanced Outbound Telephony product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Settings). Rated high severity (CVSS 8.2), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Configurator product of Oracle Supply Chain (component: UI Servlet). Rated high severity (CVSS 8.2), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle E-Business Intelligence product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: DBI Setups). Rated high severity (CVSS 8.2), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle CRM Technical Foundation product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Preferences). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.6), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Email Center product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Message Display). Rated high severity (CVSS 8.2), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Trade Management product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Invoice). Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle CRM Technical Foundation product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Preferences). Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle CRM Technical Foundation product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Preferences). Rated high severity (CVSS 8.2), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle CRM Technical Foundation product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Preferences). Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Marketing product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Marketing Administration). Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle CRM Technical Foundation product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Preferences). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.6), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Security Service product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: SSL API). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management product of Oracle Construction and Engineering (component: Web Access). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle WebLogic Server product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: Core). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3). No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3). No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL (component: Server: Security: Roles). Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the Oracle WebLogic Server product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: Sample apps). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle WebLogic Server product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: Sample apps). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle WebLogic Server product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: Sample apps). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle WebLogic Server product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: Sample apps). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle WebLogic Server product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: Sample apps). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Application Object Library product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Logging). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL (component: InnoDB). Rated low severity (CVSS 2.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL (component: InnoDB). Rated low severity (CVSS 2.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.0), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools product of Oracle PeopleSoft (component: Query). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Quick Facts
- Typical Severity
- CRITICAL
- Category
- auth
- Total CVEs
- 37834