CVE-2026-23760 SmarterTools SmarterMail: login or permission bypass
In plain words: A door that should be locked is not: part of the system can be reached without a valid login or permission. The attacker gets in as a user or administrator without knowing a password.
Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline Feb 16, 2026
What to do
- Install SmarterTools's security update for SmarterMail. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
- Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
- Patch anything in this catalog first, ahead of normal patch cycles.
- Put admin and file-transfer apps behind a VPN or single sign-on instead of the open internet.
Who is affected
Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.
What's at risk: Mass data theft and ransomware: a single flaw in a file-transfer or email server has exposed thousands of organisations at once.
The details
- Official name
- SmarterTools SmarterMail Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel Vulnerability
- Product
- SmarterTools SmarterMail
- CISA 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.
- Type of flaw
- Login or permission bypass (CWE-288)
- Confirmed exploited
- Jan 26, 2026 — known to be used in ransomware attacks
- US federal patch deadline
- Feb 16, 2026
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Answering about CVE-2026-23760 ·
Questions about CVE-2026-23760
Is CVE-2026-23760 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2026-23760 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Jan 26, 2026, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks, including by ransomware groups.
How do I fix CVE-2026-23760?
Install SmarterTools's security update for SmarterMail. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
Am I affected by CVE-2026-23760?
Only if you use SmarterTools SmarterMail. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.