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

- Exploited (CISA KEV): yes, added 2026-01-26, known ransomware use
- Published: 2026-01-22
- CVSS: 9.3 CRITICAL (v4.0)
- EPSS: 96.4% (100th percentile)
- CWE: 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.

## Edge WAF coverage (claimed by vendors, not measured)

| Vendor | Status | First rule | Days after publication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare | Blocks by default | 2026-03-02 | 39 |
| AWS | No public claim | — | — |
| Microsoft Azure | No public claim | — | — |
| Google Cloud | No public claim | — | — |
| Fastly | Before feed history | — | — |
| F5 | No public claim | — | — |
| Akamai | No public source | — | — |
| OWASP CRS | No public claim | — | — |

### Cloudflare

- 2026-03-02 · new · rule 35978af68e374a059e397bf5ee964a8c · default Block
  > SmarterMail - Authentication Bypass - CVE-2026-23760. Previous action: Log. New action: Block. This is a new detection.
  Source: https://developers.cloudflare.com/changelog/post/2026-03-02-waf-release/

## Our test (measured)

- OWASP Core Rule Set 4.25.0, paranoia level 1, anomaly threshold 5, default CRS settings: passed (0 of 1 requests blocked), template CVE-2026-23760, 2026-11-02
- OWASP Core Rule Set 4.25.0, paranoia level 2, anomaly threshold 5, default CRS settings: passed (0 of 1 requests blocked), template CVE-2026-23760, 2026-11-02

"No public claim" means no vendor statement names this CVE; "Before feed history" means the CVE is older than the vendor feed. In both cases generic rules may still block it.

HTML: https://cve.vigilbase.com/cve/CVE-2026-23760 · JSON: https://cve.vigilbase.com/api/v1/cves/CVE-2026-23760