SmarterTools SmarterMail Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel Vulnerability (CVE-2026-23760)
Severity: critical · Patch status: unknown · Since 2026-01-26 · CVE-2026-23760
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. CISA added CVE-2026-23760 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Jan 26, 2026, which means attackers are exploiting it in the wild. CISA reports known use in ransomware campaigns.
What to do
- Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- US federal agencies must remediate by Feb 16, 2026 (BOD 22-01); treat that as the outer limit.
Sources
All live incidents on Threat Watch
