CVE-2026-102115 in Kiteworks
Summary
by MITRE • 10/01/2026
Kiteworks Core did not correctly validate a parameter submitted to the password reset workflow. An unauthenticated attacker who knew the email address of a user with a locally stored password could potentially reset that account's password without access to the emailed reset link and then authenticate as that user, including where the account holds administrative privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2026
The vulnerability identified in Kiteworks Core represents a critical failure in authentication logic within the password reset workflow, specifically classified under CWE-287 which denotes Improper Authentication. This flaw arises from insufficient validation of parameters submitted during the password change process, allowing an unauthenticated actor to bypass standard security controls. The core issue lies in the application's inability to properly verify that the request originates from a legitimate user interaction or possesses valid session context before executing sensitive account modification operations. By failing to enforce strict parameter integrity checks and state management protocols, the system permits external manipulation of critical identity-related functions.
An attacker with knowledge of a target user's email address can exploit this weakness by directly interacting with the backend API endpoints responsible for password resets. Unlike standard reset flows that require verification via an emailed token or link, this vulnerability allows the adversary to force a password change without accessing any out-of-band communication channels. This capability effectively neutralizes multi-factor authentication mechanisms if they rely on email-based verification steps during the initial login phase, as the attacker can simply set a new password and log in directly using valid credentials. The attack vector is categorized under MITRE ATT&CK technique T1078, Valid Accounts, specifically involving local accounts, as it enables unauthorized access to existing user profiles without needing to compromise external identity providers or exploit network-level vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for privilege escalation and complete account takeover. Since the flaw affects all users with locally stored passwords, any individual in that category becomes a viable target. More critically, if the targeted account holds administrative privileges, an attacker can gain full control over the Kiteworks environment. This level of access allows for unrestricted data exfiltration, modification of system configurations, creation of backdoor accounts, and potential lateral movement within connected systems depending on how the platform integrates with other enterprise services. The ability to reset passwords without email verification significantly lowers the barrier to entry for attackers, making this a high-severity risk that demands immediate remediation.
Mitigation strategies must focus on enforcing strict validation rules for all password-related API calls and ensuring that state changes are tied to valid, non-expired session tokens or multi-factor authentication challenges. Implementing rate limiting on password reset requests can also help mitigate brute-force attempts associated with this flaw. Administrators should review user accounts to identify those relying solely on local passwords versus integrated identity providers, as the latter may be less susceptible depending on their specific implementation of OAuth or SAML flows. Updating Kiteworks Core to a patched version that corrects these validation logic errors is essential for restoring security integrity and preventing unauthorized account access.