CVE-2023-0860 in modoboa
Summary
by MITRE • 02/16/2023
Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts in GitHub repository modoboa/modoboa-installer prior to 2.0.4.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0860 represents a critical security flaw in the modoboa-installer repository version 2.0.3 and earlier, specifically concerning the improper restriction of excessive authentication attempts. This weakness manifests within the authentication mechanisms of the installer tool that facilitates the deployment of Modoboa email server solutions. The vulnerability stems from inadequate rate limiting and account lockout controls that should normally prevent brute force and credential stuffing attacks against the installation process. The flaw allows attackers to repeatedly attempt authentication without sufficient restrictions, potentially leading to unauthorized access or service disruption during the installation phase of Modoboa email infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the authentication handling logic of the installer software, which fails to enforce proper controls against repeated failed authentication attempts. This weakness creates a pathway for malicious actors to systematically test credentials against the installer interface, exploiting the lack of effective account lockout mechanisms or rate limiting protocols. The flaw operates at the application level and specifically impacts the installer's authentication subsystem, making it particularly dangerous during the initial setup phase when access controls may be less stringent. The absence of proper session management and authentication throttling allows for continuous credential testing without detection or mitigation measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass scenarios, as it can enable attackers to disrupt legitimate installation processes or gain unauthorized access to the installation environment. During the deployment of Modoboa email systems, an attacker could potentially exploit this weakness to either consume system resources through repeated authentication attempts or to identify valid credentials through systematic brute force operations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the installer tool itself, which typically requires elevated privileges and access to system resources during execution. This creates a potential attack surface where unauthorized individuals could compromise the integrity of the installation process and potentially gain access to underlying system configurations or credentials.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-0860 should focus on upgrading to modoboa-installer version 2.0.4 or later, which includes proper authentication rate limiting and account lockout mechanisms. Organizations should also implement network-level protections such as firewall rules to restrict access to installation interfaces and consider implementing additional authentication layers such as multi-factor authentication for installer access. The remediation process requires immediate attention as the vulnerability exists in versions prior to 2.0.4 and represents a clear violation of security best practices for authentication control. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-307, which addresses improper restriction of excessive authentication attempts, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1110.003 for credential stuffing and brute force attacks. Security teams should also conduct thorough audits of their installation processes and ensure that all automated deployment tools have adequate authentication protections in place to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in other components of their infrastructure.