January 26, 2026 · Applied Cybernetics Group
CVE-2026-23760 — SmarterTools SmarterMail
known ransomware use
SmarterTools SmarterMail Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel Vulnerability
- Added to KEV
2026-01-26- Federal due date
2026-02-16- Vendor
- SmarterTools
- Product
- SmarterMail
- EPSS
- 99.9th percentile (score 0.963, as of
2026-07-13) - NVD CVSS v3.1
- 9.8 (CRITICAL)
- Ransomware use
- Known
- Upstream
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-23760
CISA short description
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
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
NVD 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.