CVE-2026-100103 in Perforce
Summary
by MITRE • 10/05/2026
Perforce P4 Search container images prior to 2026.4.2 reset the service authentication token to a publicly documented default value. An unauthenticated attacker with network access can obtain the highest application privilege, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution and compromise of the connected P4 Server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2026
The vulnerability identified in Perforce P4 Search container images prior to version 2026.4.2 represents a critical authentication bypass resulting from improper handling of service credentials during initialization or restart cycles. The core technical flaw lies in the application's failure to generate or retain unique, secure session tokens upon startup, instead reverting to a hardcoded default value that is publicly documented and widely known within the security community. This misconfiguration effectively nullifies the intended authentication mechanisms for the P4 Search service, as any client connecting to the containerized instance can authenticate using this static credential set without providing valid user-specific credentials. The flaw exploits the assumption that container environments maintain state or generate ephemeral secrets correctly during deployment and lifecycle management, a common pitfall in cloud-native applications where configuration drift or image caching issues may lead to predictable security states.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability is severe due to the elevation of privileges granted to unauthenticated actors. An attacker with network access to the P4 Search service can leverage these default credentials to gain administrative-level control over the application interface. This level of access allows for arbitrary code execution capabilities within the context of the running container and potentially extends to the underlying host system depending on the container runtime configuration and privilege escalation vectors available. The compromise of the connected Perforce Server is a direct consequence, as P4 Search often integrates deeply with version control operations, allowing attackers to manipulate repository data, exfiltrate sensitive source code, or inject malicious changes into development pipelines. This scenario aligns closely with CWE-798: Use of Hard-coded Credentials and CWE-287: Improper Authentication, highlighting a fundamental failure in identity verification processes that are critical for maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of software supply chains.
The exploitation path typically involves an unauthenticated network user discovering the service endpoint and attempting to authenticate using the known default token or password pair provided by Perforce documentation. Once authenticated, the attacker can interact with administrative APIs, modify search indexes, access restricted repositories, and potentially execute system commands if the application exposes shell-like functionalities or integrates with external systems that trust P4 Search credentials for automated tasks. This vulnerability underscores the risks associated with static configuration in dynamic containerized environments where secrets management should be handled via secure vaults rather than hardcoded defaults. The lack of rotation mechanisms further exacerbates the risk, as once the default is known, it remains valid indefinitely until a manual intervention or upgrade occurs.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate remediation through upgrading to Perforce P4 Search version 2026.4.2 or later, where this authentication logic has been corrected to ensure unique token generation for each instance and session. In the interim, organizations should implement network-level controls such as firewall rules to restrict access to the P4 Search service ports exclusively from trusted internal subnets, thereby limiting exposure to unauthenticated external attackers. Additionally, deploying Web Application Firewalls with specific rule sets to detect and block authentication attempts using known default credentials can provide a layer of defense in depth. It is also recommended to audit container images for other instances of hardcoded secrets and enforce strict identity and access management policies that require dynamic secret injection via environment variables or mounted volumes from secure key management systems, aligning with industry best practices outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under techniques related to initial access and privilege escalation through credential abuse.