SmarterTools SmarterMail Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel Vulnerability
SmarterTools — SmarterMail
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.
9.3
96.3%
Vector breakdown
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Confidentiality (Vulnerable System)
- High
- Integrity (Vulnerable System)
- High
- Availability (Vulnerable System)
- High
- Confidentiality (Subsequent System)
- None
- Integrity (Subsequent System)
- None
- Availability (Subsequent System)
- None
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
- Published
- Jan 22, 2026
- Modified
- Mar 5, 2026
- Added to KEV
- Jan 26, 2026
- Federal patch due
- Feb 16, 2026
CISA required action
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Weakness classification
Proof-of-concept & exploitation references
Weaponization
Public repositories whose name or description references CVE-2026-23760, found via a live GitHub search at request time. These are community-sourced signals, not a verified working exploit - cross-check each one before relying on it, and treat higher star counts and recent activity as (weak) corroboration, not proof.
No public GitHub repositories referencing CVE-2026-23760 were found at last check. Absence here is not proof no exploit exists - see the references below for vendor advisories and write-ups.
References
Frequently asked questions
What is CVE-2026-23760?
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.
How severe is CVE-2026-23760?
CVE-2026-23760 has a CVSS base score of 9.3 out of 10 (CVSS 4.0).
Is CVE-2026-23760 actively exploited in the wild?
Yes. CVE-2026-23760 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added Jan 26, 2026, meaning CISA has confirmed evidence of active exploitation. It is also flagged as used in ransomware campaigns.
What is the EPSS score for CVE-2026-23760?
96.3% - meaning FIRST.org's EPSS model estimates a 96.3% probability this vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within 30 days (100% percentile among all scored CVEs).
Is there exploit tooling available for CVE-2026-23760?
Yes - a public Nuclei template referencing CVE-2026-23760 exist in public repositories we checked.
What type of vulnerability is CVE-2026-23760?
CVE-2026-23760 is classified under CWE-288 (CWE-288 Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel).
Cross-checked against
Impactr finds and proves whether CVE-2026-23760 - or flaws like it - are actually reachable in your own web apps and APIs, with a reproducible exploit as evidence.
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