CVE-2026-81578 PaperCut NG/MF: 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 Sep 14, 2026
What to do
- Install PaperCut's security update for NG/MF. 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
- PaperCut NG/MF Missing Authentication for Critical Function Vulnerability
- Product
- PaperCut NG/MF
- CISA description
- PaperCut NG/MF contains a missing authentication for critical function vulnerability which allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to modify certain system configurations. This vulnerability can be chained with CVE-2026-82078.
- Type of flaw
- Login or permission bypass (CWE-306)
- Confirmed exploited
- Aug 31, 2026
- US federal patch deadline
- Sep 14, 2026
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Answering about CVE-2026-81578 ·
Questions about CVE-2026-81578
Is CVE-2026-81578 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2026-81578 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Aug 31, 2026, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks.
How do I fix CVE-2026-81578?
Install PaperCut's security update for NG/MF. 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-2026-81578?
Only if you use PaperCut NG/MF. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.