CVE-2026-13020 in Portal for ArcGIS
Summary
by MITRE • 07/07/2026
A Weak Password Recovery Mechanism for Forgotten Password exists in Esri Portal for ArcGIS versions 12.1 and earlier on Windows, Linux and Kubernetes. A remote, unauthorized attacker may assume ownership of a user’s account by manipulating this mechanism. ArcGIS Administrators should configure an email server with ArcGIS Enterprise to facilitate user self-service password recovery. The ability for an administrator to reset a user’s password remains unchanged.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical weakness in the authentication security model of Esri Portal for ArcGIS versions 12.1 and earlier across multiple platforms including Windows, Linux, and Kubernetes environments. The flaw resides specifically within the password recovery mechanism that governs forgotten password functionality, creating an exploitable pathway for remote attackers to compromise user accounts without legitimate authorization. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation controls during the password reset process, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the recovery workflow and potentially assume control of arbitrary user accounts within the system.
The technical implementation of this weakness enables unauthorized access through manipulation of the email-based password recovery mechanism that administrators must configure for self-service functionality. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting specific requests or manipulating recovery tokens in ways that bypass normal authentication checks, effectively allowing them to take ownership of user accounts without proper credentials or authorization. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege and proper access control enforcement within the application's authentication framework.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple account compromise as it provides attackers with persistent access to sensitive geospatial data and system resources managed through ArcGIS Enterprise environments. Once an attacker successfully assumes ownership of a user account, they can potentially escalate privileges, access restricted content, modify system configurations, or conduct further reconnaissance activities within the compromised environment. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Esri Portal for ArcGIS for critical mapping, spatial analysis, and enterprise GIS operations where unauthorized access could result in significant data breaches, operational disruptions, and compliance violations.
Security professionals should note this vulnerability aligns with CWE-640 Weak Password Recovery Mechanism which specifically addresses flaws in password reset and recovery processes that allow attackers to bypass normal authentication procedures. The attack vector falls under the MITRE ATT&CK framework category of Credential Access through methods that exploit weak authentication controls and password recovery mechanisms. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including strengthening email server configurations, implementing additional validation checks for password recovery requests, and ensuring proper rate limiting and IP tracking mechanisms are in place to prevent automated exploitation attempts.
Administrative remediation steps include upgrading to supported versions of ArcGIS Enterprise where this vulnerability has been addressed, implementing robust monitoring of password recovery activities, and establishing strict access controls around the email server configuration that facilitates these recovery processes. The existing administrator password reset functionality remains unaffected, but the self-service recovery mechanism requires immediate attention to prevent exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication as additional defense-in-depth measures and conduct thorough security assessments of their ArcGIS Enterprise deployments to identify any other potential authentication-related vulnerabilities.