CVE-2026-23760
SmarterTools SmarterMail Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel Vulnerability
Does this matter?
Known to be exploited in the wild (CISA KEV, CISA remediation deadline 16 February 2026). Treat as an emergency change: patch or isolate now, then hunt for prior compromise.
Description
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.
- CVSS 4.0
- 9.3 CRITICALCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/M
- EPSS
- 96.44% probability · 100th percentile
- CISA KEV
- Listed 26 January 2026 · due 16 February 2026 · used in ransomware campaigns
- Weakness
- CWE-288
- Affected
- smartertools/smartermail
- Source
- disclosure@vulncheck.com
CISA notes
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. https://www.smartertools.com/smartermail/release-notes/current ; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-23760
References
- https://code-white.com/public-vulnerability-list/#authenticationserviceforceresetpassword-missing-authentication-in-smartermailThird 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/currentRelease Notes
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/smartertools-smartermail-authentication-bypass-via-password-reset-apiThird Party Advisory
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-23760US Government Resource
- https://www.huntress.com/blog/smartermail-account-takeover-leading-to-rceExploit, Third Party Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA. Refreshed daily.