CVE-2026-23760: SmarterTools SmarterMail Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel Vulnerability

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities

Name

SmarterTools SmarterMail Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel Vulnerability

Vendor

SmarterTools

Product

SmarterMail

Added to the catalog

2026-01-26

Due date for US federal agencies

2026-02-16

Weaknesses

CWE-288

Catalog version

2026.10.30

SmarterTools SmarterMail contains an authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel vulnerability in the password reset API. The force-reset-password endpoint permits anonymous requests and fails to verify the existing password or a reset token when resetting system administrator accounts. This could allow an unauthenticated attacker to supply a target administrator username and a new password to reset the account, resulting in full administrative compromise of the SmarterMail instance.

Required action (CISA)

Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

Ransomware use: CISA marks this vulnerability as known to be used in ransomware campaigns. CISA does not say which group used it.

Links in CISA's notes

• https://www.smartertools.com/smartermail/release-notes/current
• https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-23760

Read on 2026-11-02T23:39:54.475Z under licence cisa-kev-cc0@b0067899 from https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/feeds/known_exploited_vulnerabilities.json

NVD analysis

Status

Analyzed

Published

2026-01-22T15:16:55.120

Last modified

2026-08-04T05:16:38.160

Weaknesses

CWE-288

SmarterTools SmarterMail versions prior to build 9511 contain an authentication bypass vulnerability in the password reset API. The force-reset-password endpoint permits anonymous requests and fails to verify the existing password or a reset token when resetting system administrator accounts. An unauthenticated attacker can supply a target administrator username and a new password to reset the account, resulting in full administrative compromise of the SmarterMail instance. NOTE: SmarterMail system administrator privileges grant the ability to execute operating system commands via built-in management functionality, effectively providing administrative (SYSTEM or root) access on the underlying host.

References

• https://code-white.com/public-vulnerability-list/#authenticationserviceforceresetpassword-missing-authentication-in-smartermail (Third Party Advisory)
• https://labs.watchtowr.com/attackers-with-decompilers-strike-again-smartertools-smartermail-wt-2026-0001-auth-bypass/ (Exploit, Third Party Advisory)
• https://www.smartertools.com/smartermail/release-notes/current (Release Notes)
• https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/smartertools-smartermail-authentication-bypass-via-password-reset-api (Third Party Advisory)
• https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-23760 (US Government Resource)
• https://www.huntress.com/blog/smartermail-account-takeover-leading-to-rce (Exploit, Third Party Advisory)

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.

Read on 2026-11-02T23:42:22.836Z under licence nvd-api-terms-of-use@ff2a5288 from https://services.nvd.nist.gov/rest/json/cves/2.0?cveId=CVE-2026-23760

CVE record

Title (CNA)

SmarterTools SmarterMail < Build 9511 Authentication Bypass via Password Reset API

Assigner

VulnCheck

State

PUBLISHED

Published

2026-01-22T14:35:17.235Z

Updated

2026-08-04T03:56:03.047Z

Problem types

CWE-288 Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel

SmarterTools SmarterMail versions prior to build 9511 contain an authentication bypass vulnerability in the password reset API. The force-reset-password endpoint permits anonymous requests and fails to verify the existing password or a reset token when resetting system administrator accounts. An unauthenticated attacker can supply a target administrator username and a new password to reset the account, resulting in full administrative compromise of the SmarterMail instance. NOTE: SmarterMail system administrator privileges grant the ability to execute operating system commands via built-in management functionality, effectively providing administrative (SYSTEM or root) access on the underlying host.

References

• https://www.smartertools.com/smartermail/release-notes/current
• https://labs.watchtowr.com/attackers-with-decompilers-strike-again-smartertools-smartermail-wt-2026-0001-auth-bypass/
• https://code-white.com/public-vulnerability-list/#authenticationserviceforceresetpassword-missing-authentication-in-smartermail
• https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/smartertools-smartermail-authentication-bypass-via-password-reset-api

Read on 2026-11-03T02:19:26.435Z under licence cve-terms-of-use@81bfa2f3 from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/main/cves/2026/23xxx/CVE-2026-23760.json

Defensive techniques (MITRE D3FEND)

D3FEND maps these defensive techniques to the weakness (CWE) that NVD lists for this CVE, through the digital artifacts the weakness affects. D3FEND does not say they stop this vulnerability.

MITRE D3FEND™ knowledge graph. © 2025 The MITRE Corporation.
"The MITRE Corporation (MITRE) hereby grants you a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use D3FEND for research, development, and commercial purposes. Any copy you make for such purposes is authorized provided that you reproduce MITRE's copyright designation and this license in any such copy." Terms: https://d3fend.mitre.org/tou/