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 (7833)
Missing Authorization vulnerability in NotFound Unlimited Timeline allows Accessing Functionality Not Properly Constrained by ACLs. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Missing Authorization vulnerability in NotFound JetMenu allows Accessing Functionality Not Properly Constrained by ACLs.4.9. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Unauthenticated attackers can rename arbitrary devices of arbitrary users (i.e., EV chargers). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An unauthenticated attacker can hijack other users' devices and potentially control them. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An attacker can export other users' plant information. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Unauthenticated attackers can add devices of other users to their scenes (or arbitrary scenes of other arbitrary users). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An authenticated attacker can obtain any plant name by knowing the plant ID. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An unauthenticated attacker can obtain a list of smart devices by knowing a valid username. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An unauthenticated attacker can check the existence of usernames in the system by querying an API. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An unauthenticated attacker can obtain a user's plant list by knowing the username. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Tools product of Oracle JD Edwards (component: Web Runtime SEC). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Smart View for Office product of Oracle Hyperion (component: Core Smart View). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Java VM component of Oracle Database Server. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required.
Vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise CC Common Application Objects product of Oracle PeopleSoft (component: Page and Field Configuration). Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the RDBMS Listener component of Oracle Database Server. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. This Improper Authentication vulnerability could allow attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms to gain unauthorized access.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Application Object Library product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Core). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Applications Technology Stack product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Configuration). Rated low severity (CVSS 3.6), this vulnerability is no authentication required.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Communications Order and Service Management product of Oracle Communications Applications (component: Security). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Configurator product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Core). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Scripting product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: iSurvey Module). Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), 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: Core). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the Oracle BI Publisher product of Oracle Analytics (component: XML Services). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. This Exposure of Sensitive Information vulnerability could allow attackers to access sensitive data that should not be disclosed.
Vulnerability in the MySQL Client product of Oracle MySQL (component: Client: mysqldump). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Configurator product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Orders). 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 Teleservice product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Service Diagnostics Scripts). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), 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 high severity (CVSS 7.5), 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.
Vulnerability in the MySQL Connectors product of Oracle MySQL (component: Connector/Python). Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable.
Vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise HCM Talent Acquisition Manager product of Oracle PeopleSoft (component: Job Opening). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Applications Framework product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Attachments, File Upload). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the MySQL Cluster product of Oracle MySQL (component: Cluster: NDBCluster Plugin). Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Tools product of Oracle JD Edwards (component: Web Runtime SEC). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the Oracle User Management product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Search and Register Users). 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 iStore product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: User Management). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, 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. This Incorrect Authorization vulnerability could allow attackers to bypass authorization checks to access restricted resources.
Vulnerability in the RAS Security component of Oracle Database Server. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. This Incorrect Default Permissions vulnerability could allow attackers to access resources due to overly permissive default settings.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Solaris product of Oracle Systems (component: Pluggable authentication module). Rated low severity (CVSS 3.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL (component: Server: Stored Procedure). Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM for JDK, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition product of Oracle Java SE (component: 2D). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.6), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools product of Oracle PeopleSoft (component: Panel Processor). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL (component: Server: PS). Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL (component: InnoDB). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the XML Database component of Oracle Database Server. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL (component: InnoDB). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the Oracle iSupplier Portal product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Attachments). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in Oracle Java SE (component: Compiler). Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Solaris product of Oracle Systems (component: Filesystem). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.2).
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL (component: Server: Optimizer). Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Hospitality Simphony product of Oracle Food and Beverage Applications (component: EMC). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.6), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Unauthenticated attackers can obtain restricted information about a user's smart device collections (i.e., "scenes"). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An unauthenticated attacker can obtain a serial number of a smart meter(s) using its owner's username. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An attacker can change registered email addresses of other users and take over arbitrary accounts. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Unauthenticated attackers can obtain restricted information about a user's smart device collections (i.e., "rooms"). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An unauthenticated attacker can get users' emails by knowing usernames. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An unauthenticated attacker can infer the existence of usernames in the system by querying an API. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.9), 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: Server: DML). Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM for JDK, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition product of Oracle Java SE (component: JSSE). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Tools product of Oracle JD Edwards (component: Web Runtime SEC). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the Oracle CRM Technical Foundation product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Preferences). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. This Incorrect Authorization vulnerability could allow attackers to bypass authorization checks to access restricted resources.
Vulnerability in the Oracle Financial Services Revenue Management and Billing product of Oracle Financial Services Applications (component: Chatbot). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.0), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable.
An issue in the web socket handshake process of SteVe v3.7.1 allows attackers to bypass authentication and execute arbitrary coammands via supplying crafted OCPP requests. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
Jellyfin is an open source self hosted media server. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.6), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required.
An attacker could modify or disable settings, disrupt fuel monitoring and supply chain operations, leading to disabling of ATG monitoring. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
HCL BigFix Web Reports' service communicates over HTTPS but exhibits a weakness in its handling of SSL certificate validation. Rated low severity (CVSS 2.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable. No vendor patch available.
code-gen <=2.0.6 is vulnerable to Incorrect Access Control. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
In JotUrl 2.0, is possible to bypass security requirements during the password change process. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Dmitry V. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Quý Lê 91 Administrator Z allows Privilege Escalation.03.24. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Missing Authorization vulnerability in NotFound JetBlog allows Accessing Functionality Not Properly Constrained by ACLs.4.3. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Missing Authorization vulnerability in VW Themes Industrial Lite allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.0.8. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Missing Authorization vulnerability in NotFound JetPopup allows Accessing Functionality Not Properly Constrained by ACLs.0.11. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Missing Authorization vulnerability in NotFound JetTricks allows Accessing Functionality Not Properly Constrained by ACLs.5.1. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Missing Authorization vulnerability in AWEOS GmbH Email Notifications for Updates allows Privilege Escalation.1.6. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Insecure Direct Object Reference vulnerability in Deporsite from T-INNOVA allows an attacker to retrieve sensitive information from others users via "idUsuario" parameter in. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Insecure Direct Object Reference vulnerability in Deporsite from T-INNOVA allows an attacker to retrieve sensitive information from others users via "idUsuario" parameter in. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability in the MIT Kerberos implementation allows GSSAPI-protected messages using RC4-HMAC-MD5 to be spoofed due to weaknesses in the MD5 checksum design. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
Dell Trusted Device, versions prior to 7.0.3.0, contain an Incorrect Default Permissions vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.7). No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability was found in ZHENFENG13/code-projects My-Blog-layui 1.0. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in westboy CicadasCMS 1.0. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
In WhatsUp Gold versions released before 2024.0.3, a database manipulation vulnerability allows an unauthenticated attacker to modify the contents of WhatsUp.dbo.WrlsMacAddressGroup. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.6), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
Mattermost versions 10.5.x <= 10.5.1, 9.11.x <= 9.11.9 fail to check if a file has been deleted when creating a bookmark which allows an attacker who knows the IDs of deleted files to obtain metadata. Rated low severity (CVSS 3.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in veal98 小牛肉 Echo 开源社区系统 4.2. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in huanfenz/code-projects StudentManager 1.0. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in ghostxbh uzy-ssm-mall 1.0.0. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A session management vulnerability exists in Apache Roller before version 6.1.5 where active user sessions are not properly invalidated after password changes. Rated low severity (CVSS 2.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable. No vendor patch available.
Mattermost versions 10.5.x <= 10.5.1, 10.4.x <= 10.4.3, 9.11.x <= 9.11.9 fail to restrict certain operations on system admins to only other system admins, which allows delegated granular. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
The User Registration & Membership - Custom Registration Form, Login Form, and User Profile plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Insecure Direct Object Reference in all versions up to, and. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
The User Registration & Membership - Custom Registration Form, Login Form, and User Profile plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Insecure Direct Object Reference in all versions up to, and. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Improper access control in Visual Studio Code allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Incorrect Authorization vulnerability in The Wikimedia Foundation Mediawiki - OAuth Extension allows Authentication Bypass.39 through 1.43. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Quick Facts
- Typical Severity
- CRITICAL
- Category
- auth
- Total CVEs
- 7833