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 (37458)
Unauthenticated device password change API in industrial/IoT device. Remote attackers can change the device password without any authentication.
Unauthenticated web shell in METIS DFS devices (versions <= oscore 2.1.234-r18). Same vulnerability as CVE-2026-2248 but on DFS product line.
Unauthenticated web shell in METIS WIC devices (versions <= oscore 2.1.234-r18). The /console endpoint provides shell access without authentication. First of two related METIS CVEs.
MSHTML Framework contains a protection mechanism failure (CVE-2026-21513, CVSS 8.8) allowing remote attackers to bypass security features over a network. KEV-listed, this vulnerability in the legacy HTML rendering engine (still used by many Windows applications and email clients) enables execution of malicious content by circumventing the browser's security sandbox and content restrictions.
Fortios versions up to 7.6.4 contains a vulnerability that allows attackers to an unauthenticated attacker to bypass LDAP authentication of Agentless VPN or FS (CVSS 8.1).
Ivanti Endpoint Manager before 2024 SU5 contains an authentication bypass (CVE-2026-1603, CVSS 8.6) that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to leak stored credential data. KEV-listed with EPSS 43.9%, this vulnerability exposes credentials stored in the endpoint management platform — potentially including service accounts, deployment credentials, and other secrets used to manage the entire endpoint fleet.
Authentication bypass in Apache Druid versions 0.17.0 through 35.x. Affects all versions prior to 36.0.0 when specific prerequisites are met.
Missing authentication in Flowring Agentflow allows unauthenticated attackers to read, modify, and delete data. Second auth bypass CVE.
Authentication bypass in Flowring Agentflow workflow system allows unauthenticated remote attackers to exploit specific functions. EPSS 0.63%.
Sap Basis versions up to 700 is affected by improper verification of cryptographic signature (CVSS 8.8).
FUXA SCADA has an authentication spoofing vulnerability from versions 1.2.8 through 1.2.10 — tenth critical vulnerability.
FUXA SCADA has yet another authorization bypass — now the seventh critical FUXA vulnerability discovered, enabling unauthenticated access to industrial controls.
Path normalization bypass in Filebrowser prior to 2.57.1 allows authenticated users to circumvent file access restrictions by injecting multiple slashes into request URLs, enabling unauthorized access to files designated as restricted. The vulnerability exploits a mismatch between the authorization validation logic and filesystem path resolution, affecting users running vulnerable versions. Public exploit code exists for this high-severity issue.
Unauthenticated message injection in PolarLearn 0-PRERELEASE-16 and earlier allows remote attackers to send persistent messages to arbitrary group chats via the WebSocket API without credentials. Public exploit code exists for this vulnerability, which affects all users of vulnerable versions by enabling spam and potential information manipulation within group communications.
PlaciPy has an incorrect authorization allowing privilege escalation — seventh and final critical vulnerability.
PlaciPy has an incorrect authorization vulnerability — fifth of seven critical flaws.
Hollo versions prior to 0.6.20 and 0.7.2 improperly expose direct messages and followers-only posts through the ActivityPub outbox endpoint, allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to access sensitive user communications. Public exploit code exists for this authorization bypass vulnerability, enabling attackers to enumerate and retrieve private content intended for restricted audiences. Patched versions 0.6.20 and 0.7.2 are available to remediate the exposure.
PlaciPy has another missing authorization vulnerability — fourth of seven critical security flaws.
PlaciPy has a missing authorization vulnerability — third of seven critical security flaws.
PlaciPy placement system 1.0.0 has an improper authorization vulnerability enabling unauthenticated admin access — second of seven critical PlaciPy vulnerabilities.
Unauthenticated directory traversal in FileRise prior to version 3.3.0 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files from the /uploads directory without authentication by directly accessing guessable file paths. Public exploit code exists for this vulnerability, enabling attackers to expose sensitive data and breach user privacy. No patch is currently available.
Keycloak's invitation token validation fails to cryptographically verify JWT payload modifications, allowing authenticated attackers to alter organization IDs and email addresses to register into unauthorized organizations. This enables unauthorized access to organizations without proper authentication, affecting any Keycloak deployment using the invitation feature. No patch is currently available.
JetBrains Hub before 2025.3.119807 has an authentication bypass allowing administrative actions without proper credentials.
HGiga C&Cm@il email system has a missing authentication vulnerability allowing unauthenticated remote access to email server functions.
A device stores user credentials using AES-ECB encryption with a hard-coded key, allowing any attacker to decrypt all stored passwords.
Insufficient URI validation in CGI endpoints permits unauthenticated attackers to bypass authentication controls through path traversal techniques, enabling direct access to protected administrative functions and configuration files. An attacker can exploit this remotely without credentials to retrieve sensitive data and potentially modify system settings. No patch is currently available for this vulnerability.
Improper authentication in the CRUD endpoint of code-projects Contact Management System 1.0 allows unauthenticated remote attackers to manipulate ID parameters and bypass access controls. This vulnerability enables unauthorized users to read, modify, or delete sensitive contact data without valid credentials. No patch is currently available.
Broken authorization in Wekan versions prior to 8.20 lets any authenticated non-administrative user invoke board migration functionality that should be restricted to board administrators. Because permission checks on the migration methods (e.g. comprehensiveBoardMigration.execute) are insufficient, a low-privileged user can trigger unauthorized migration operations that mutate board structure and data. EPSS is very low (0.05%, 15th percentile) and there is no public exploit identified at time of analysis, but a vendor patch and fix commit are available.
Authorization bypass in WeKan (self-hosted kanban board) versions prior to 8.19 lets an authenticated user create public boards even when the instance-wide allowPrivateOnly setting is enabled, because server-side enforcement of the visibility policy is incomplete at board-creation time. The flaw undermines an administrator's expectation that all boards remain private, potentially exposing board content beyond intended audiences. EPSS is low (0.03%, 9th percentile) with no public exploit identified at time of analysis and no CISA KEV listing; a vendor patch is available.
Improper authorization in WeKan's card-move API lets an authenticated low-privilege user relocate cards to boards, lists, and swimlanes they do not control, because the destination is trusted without verifying access rights or that the target objects belong to the destination board. All WeKan versions before 8.19 are affected; no public exploit is identified at time of analysis and EPSS is negligible (0.01%), but the fixing commit publicly documents the missing checks, lowering the bar to reproduce.
Privilege escalation via broken authorization in WeKan (the open-source kanban board) before 8.19 lets users holding read-only board roles modify cards, lists, and swimlanes that should require write access. The flaw stems from card/list/swimlane update API routes calling a read-level access check instead of a write-level check, letting a low-privileged but authenticated member tamper with data they should only be able to view. There is no public exploit identified at time of analysis and EPSS is negligible (0.01%), but the fix is confirmed in an upstream commit and the CVSS 4.0 base score is 7.1.
Cross-board data tampering in WeKan (open-source Trello-style kanban board) before version 8.19 lets an authenticated low-privileged user manipulate checklists on cards belonging to boards they should not access. The checklist creation, deletion, and related REST routes accept a cardId without confirming it belongs to the supplied boardId, so an attacker can forge identifiers to add or remove checklists on other users' cards. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, and EPSS is negligible (0.01%), but the vendor fix commit confirms the root cause and a straightforward exploitation path.
Cross-board data tampering in WeKan (the open-source Trello-style kanban board) before version 8.19 lets an authenticated low-privilege user attach checklists to cards on boards they do not own by supplying a mismatched cardId/boardId pair. Because the checklist creation routes never confirm the card actually belongs to the referenced board, any logged-in user can manipulate identifiers to write into other users' boards. No public exploit is identified at time of analysis and EPSS exploitation probability is negligible (0.01%), but the fix is confirmed by an upstream vendor commit.
Improper authorization in the WeKan attachment upload API (versions prior to 8.19) lets an authenticated low-privileged user submit inconsistent object identifiers (boardId, cardId, swimlaneId, listId) that the server fails to cross-validate, allowing attachments to be associated with or moved across card/board relationships the user should not control. The affected component is the self-hosted open-source kanban platform WeKan; the fix (commit 1d16955b) adds server-side checks that a card actually belongs to the named board, swimlane, and list. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, EPSS is negligible (0.01%), and it is not in CISA KEV.
3DP-MANAGER for 3x-ui has hard-coded credentials (CVSS 9.8) in version 2.0.1 that provide automatic access to the management interface.
Authentication bypass in the Keylime registrar (versions 7.12.0 and later) lets unauthenticated network attackers perform administrative actions because the registrar fails to enforce client-side mutual TLS. Attackers connecting without a client certificate can list registered agents, read public TPM data, and delete agents - undermining the integrity of the remote-attestation trust chain. EPSS is low (0.04%, 11th percentile) and there is no public exploit identified at time of analysis, but the flaw is trivially reachable (CVSS 9.8) and patched across Red Hat and SUSE channels.
PlaciPy placement management system 1.0.0 uses a hard-coded password, allowing any attacker who discovers it to gain full system access.
Unauthenticated attackers can bypass public link scope verification in OpenCloud Reva versions prior to 2.42.3 and 2.40.3 through a flaw in GRPC authorization middleware. By exploiting the archiver service, an attacker can create archives containing all resources accessible to the public link creator, resulting in unauthorized information disclosure. A patch is available in versions 2.42.3 and 2.40.3.
WP Duplicate WordPress plugin has a missing authorization vulnerability leading to arbitrary file deletion that can destroy the WordPress installation.
Azure Arc Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability [CVSS 8.6 HIGH]
Command execution in pgAdmin 4 server mode allows authenticated attackers to bypass restore operation restrictions by extracting the restrict key during PLAIN-format dump file operations and injecting malicious payloads to re-enable meta-commands. An attacker with web interface access can race the restore process in real time to achieve reliable code execution on the pgAdmin host. No patch is currently available for this vulnerability.
OpenSlides versions prior to 4.2.29 allow unauthorized authentication bypass for SAML-synchronized users through the local login form by using the victim's username with a hardcoded trivial password. An attacker can gain complete access to any SAML user account without knowing their actual credentials, potentially compromising sensitive assembly management data including agendas, motions, and election information. A patch is available in version 4.2.29 and should be applied immediately to all affected instances.
Bambuddy 3D printer management system has missing authentication (CVSS 9.8) allowing unauthenticated access to printer control and print archive.
Synectix LAN 232 TRIO serial-to-ethernet adapter exposes its web management interface without authentication (CVSS 10.0), enabling unauthenticated control of serial devices.
MOMA Seismic Station v2.4.2520 exposes its web management interface without authentication, allowing unauthenticated control of seismological monitoring equipment.
Fastify versions before 5.7.2 allow attackers to bypass request body validation by injecting a tab character into the Content-Type header, enabling malicious payloads to reach application logic without validation checks. This remote attack requires no authentication and affects Node.js applications using vulnerable Fastify versions. A patch is available in version 5.7.2 and later.
Qwik JavaScript framework prior to 1.19.0 has a prototype pollution vulnerability that can lead to server-side code execution in SSR applications.
Missing authentication in Avation Light Engine Pro exposes its full configuration and control interface to any remote party with network reach, allowing unauthenticated attackers to read settings and manipulate the device's operation. Tracked as CWE-306 with a CVSS 4.0 score of 9.3, it was reported through CISA's ICS-CERT (advisory ICSA-26-034-02), indicating an OT/ICS deployment context. There is no public exploit identified at time of analysis, and the EPSS probability is very low (0.02%, 6th percentile).
Open Eclass Platform versions up to 4.2 is affected by authorization bypass through user-controlled key (CVSS 7.5).
The Open eClass platform (formerly known as GUnet eClass) is a complete course management system. [CVSS 7.8 HIGH]
Rapid7 InsightVM before 8.34.0 has a SAML signature verification bypass (CVSS 9.6) allowing attackers to forge authentication assertions and gain unauthorized access.
RustFS is a distributed object storage system built in Rust. [CVSS 7.5 HIGH]
NixOS Odoo package from 21.11 to before 25.11 publicly exposes the database manager interface without authentication, enabling full database control.
Unauthenticated clients can invoke resource-intensive Socket.IO events in lollms 5.9.0 due to missing authentication checks in the event handler registration, allowing attackers to trigger denial of service and state corruption. The vulnerability is compounded by improper use of global state flags in multi-client environments, enabling attackers to interfere with legitimate client operations and manipulate server state through race conditions. No patch is currently available for this high-severity flaw affecting the AI/ML framework.
Garoon contains a vulnerability that allows attackers to unauthorized alteration of portal settings, potentially blocking access to the p (CVSS 7.5).
Hardcoded database credentials in Samsung MagicInfo9 Server allow direct database access and manipulation.
Ax12 Pro Firmware versions up to 16.03.49.24_cn is affected by use of hard-coded password (CVSS 8.1).
Missing authentication in KiloView Encoder Series allows unauthenticated attackers to create or delete admin accounts on video encoding equipment.
Podman Desktop versions prior to 1.25.1 contain an authentication bypass in the extension permission framework where the `isAccessAllowed()` function always returns true, allowing malicious extensions to hijack authentication sessions and access sensitive resources without authorization. Public exploit code exists for this vulnerability, affecting all current deployments of the affected product. Administrators should upgrade to version 1.25.1 or later immediately.
Token decryption in OpenProject 17.0 allows authenticated attackers to intercept and decrypt 24-hour authentication tokens by exploiting insufficient validation of backend URLs in the real-time collaboration synchronization server. An attacker with valid credentials could redirect the synchronization server to a controlled endpoint, forcing it to send the decrypted token and enabling unauthorized access to document collaboration features. No patch is currently available for this high-severity vulnerability affecting authenticated users.
Commerce Paybox versions up to 7.X-1.5. is affected by improper verification of cryptographic signature (CVSS 7.5).
Simple User Registration (WordPress plugin) versions up to 6.7 is affected by improper access control (CVSS 8.8).
SolarWinds Web Help Desk contains a security control bypass vulnerability (CVE-2025-40536) that allows unauthenticated attackers to access restricted functionality. With EPSS 69% and KEV listing, this CVSS 8.1 vulnerability is particularly concerning given SolarWinds' history of being targeted in supply chain attacks and the sensitive IT service data typically stored in help desk systems.
Dokploy versions before 0.26.6 contain hardcoded database credentials in the installation script, causing nearly all deployments to share identical credentials that can be obtained from the publicly available install.sh file. An authenticated attacker on the network can leverage these credentials to access the database, potentially achieving high-impact compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Public exploit code exists for this vulnerability and a patch is available in version 0.26.6 and later.
Fortinet FortiAnalyzer and FortiManager contain a critical authentication bypass vulnerability (CVE-2026-24858, CVSS 9.8) that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to gain administrative access through an alternate authentication path. With EPSS 2.8% but KEV listing confirming active exploitation, this vulnerability threatens the security management infrastructure that organizations rely on to protect their networks.
EZCast Pro II v1.17478.146 uses well-known default credentials in the Admin UI enabling immediate administrative access to the wireless presentation system.
Dashboard permission API fails to validate scope boundaries, allowing authenticated users with permission management rights on any single dashboard to read and modify permissions across all organization dashboards. This privilege escalation affects multi-user dashboard environments where permission isolation is expected. No patch is currently available.
Unauthenticated password modification in Tenda W30E V2 firmware through the maintenance interface allows authenticated users to reset account credentials without password verification, potentially enabling privilege escalation or account takeover on affected devices. The vulnerability affects firmware versions up to V16.01.0.19(5037) and currently lacks an available patch.
Missing rate limiting and account lockout on Tenda W30E V2 authentication endpoints. Brute-force attacks are unrestricted.
Tenda W30E V2 firmware through version 16.01.0.19(5037) allows authenticated users with low privileges to escalate to administrator by exploiting broken authorization in the user management API, enabling password changes for admin accounts without proper access controls. An attacker with any valid user account can bypass web interface restrictions and gain full administrative access to the device. No patch is currently available for this vulnerability.
Microsoft Office contains a security feature bypass (CVE-2026-21509, CVSS 7.8) where reliance on untrusted inputs in security decisions allows local attackers to bypass protections designed to prevent execution of malicious content. KEV-listed with EPSS 9.3%, this vulnerability enables attackers to circumvent Office security features like Protected View or macro restrictions through crafted documents.
Unauthenticated attackers can exploit an insecure direct object reference vulnerability in Saleor e-commerce platform versions 3.2.0-3.22.28 to retrieve sensitive customer information including personally identifiable data in plain text through the order() GraphQL query. This high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 7.5) affects orders across multiple version branches and has been patched in releases 3.20.110, 3.21.45, and 3.22.29. Organizations unable to patch immediately should implement WAF rules to restrict non-staff access to order queries.
SmarterTools SmarterMail prior to build 9511 contains a second critical vulnerability (CVE-2026-24423) — an unauthenticated remote code execution flaw in the ConnectToHub API method. An attacker can redirect the SmarterMail server to connect to a malicious HTTP endpoint that serves OS commands for execution. KEV-listed with EPSS 29%, this is chainable with CVE-2026-23760 for complete server compromise.
The Linux kernel NFSv4 grace period handler contains a use-after-free vulnerability in the v4_end_grace function that can be triggered by local attackers with unprivileged access, allowing them to read or modify sensitive kernel memory or cause a denial of service. The vulnerability arises from improper synchronization between the grace period shutdown logic and the NFSv4 client tracking mechanism, which can result in memory being accessed after it has been freed. A patch is available to add proper locking that prevents concurrent access to the vulnerable code path.
A denial-of-service (DoS) vulnerability exists in google.protobuf.json_format.ParseDict() in Python, where the max_recursion_depth limit can be bypassed when parsing nested google.protobuf.Any messages.
IAQS and I6 by JNC have a missing authentication vulnerability allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to directly access sensitive system functionality.
Privilege escalation in Microsoft Azure Resource Manager (ARM) lets a network-based attacker abuse an improper access control flaw (CWE-284) to elevate privileges and gain full read/write/impact control over resources beyond their intended authorization boundary, with a scope-changing blast radius (S:C) rated CVSS 10.0. Because ARM is the unified control-plane API that governs deployment and management of virtually all Azure resources, a successful escalation can cross tenant or subscription trust boundaries. There is no public exploit identified at time of analysis, and the EPSS score is very low (0.05%), indicating no observed weaponization despite the maximal CVSS.
Dragonfly P2P file distribution system versions 2.4.1-rc.0 and below have a missing authentication vulnerability allowing unauthenticated access to the management API.
Soft Serve self-hosted Git server versions 0.11.2 and below have a critical authentication bypass that allows unauthenticated access to private repositories.
Gitea fails to validate repository ownership when linking attachments to releases, allowing users to attach files from one repository to releases in another.
Gitea fails to validate repository ownership when deleting Git LFS locks, allowing users with write access to one repo to delete LFS locks in other repositories.
Gitea does not properly validate project ownership in organization operations, allowing users with project write access to manipulate projects belonging to other organizations.
Gitea fails to properly validate repository ownership when processing attachment deletion requests, allowing an authenticated attacker to delete files from repositories they no longer have access to by routing deletion requests through a different accessible repository. This authorization bypass affects all users who have uploaded attachments to shared repositories and could result in loss of critical project documentation or resources. A patch is available to address this improper access control vulnerability.
Powerscale Onefs versions up to 9.13.0.0 is affected by improper restriction of excessive authentication attempts (CVSS 8.1).
Full administrative takeover of SmarterTools SmarterMail (builds prior to 9511) is possible because the force-reset-password endpoint of the password reset API accepts anonymous requests and skips verification of the current password or a reset token for system administrator accounts. A remote unauthenticated attacker who knows or guesses an admin username can set an arbitrary new password and seize the system administrator role, which in SmarterMail permits OS command execution and therefore SYSTEM/root-level control of the host. This is confirmed actively exploited (CISA KEV), publicly available exploit code exists, and the EPSS score of 65.41% (98th percentile) reflects high near-term exploitation likelihood.
Horilla HRMS versions prior to 1.5.0 allow authenticated attackers to bypass two-factor authentication due to improper OTP validation that treats missing OTP fields as valid when the OTP has expired. Public exploit code exists for this vulnerability, enabling attackers with user credentials to gain unauthorized access to accounts, particularly administrative accounts with access to sensitive HR data and employee records. An attacker exploiting this flaw could manipulate employee information and compromise system-wide operations.
The sm-crypto JavaScript library has a private key recovery vulnerability in its SM2 implementation, allowing attackers to extract secret keys from signatures.
DataEase data visualization tool prior to 2.10.19 uses MD5-hashed passwords without salting, allowing attackers to crack credentials and gain unauthorized access.
Cross-namespace secret disclosure in External Secrets Operator (versions 0.20.2 through 1.1.x) lets a low-privileged tenant who can author ExternalSecret resources abuse the `getSecretKey` template function to fetch secrets from other namespaces using the controller's own roleBinding, bypassing the operator's namespace-isolation safeguards. The function - originally added for the senhasegura DSM provider - was removed entirely in 1.2.0. There is no public exploit identified at time of analysis and EPSS is negligible (0.01%), but the authorization-bypass primitive is straightforward for any tenant with ExternalSecret create rights.
Claude Code versions prior to 2.0.65 allow attackers to steal Anthropic API keys from users by crafting malicious repositories that redirect API calls to attacker-controlled servers before the trust confirmation dialog appears. When a victim opens an infected repository, the tool automatically reads malicious configuration settings and sends API requests containing credentials before displaying any security prompt, enabling credential theft. Users should upgrade to version 2.0.65 or later, though auto-update users have already received the patch.
Quick Facts
- Typical Severity
- CRITICAL
- Category
- auth
- Total CVEs
- 37458