CVE-2026-43845 in ADAM-3600
Summary
by MITRE • 10/20/2026
A vulnerability in the password reset mechanism could allow an attacker to bypass the authentication mechanism.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2026
The identified vulnerability resides within the application's password reset functionality, representing a critical failure in identity and access management controls. This flaw allows an unauthorized actor to circumvent standard authentication protocols by exploiting weaknesses in how the system validates user identity during the recovery process. In many modern web applications, the password reset mechanism serves as a secondary authentication path that relies on out-of-band verification methods such as email links or SMS codes. When this pathway is not rigorously secured against manipulation, it effectively becomes an open door for account takeover attacks, bypassing the primary credentials entirely.
From a technical perspective, this type of flaw typically stems from improper validation of reset tokens or insufficient checks on user input parameters. Common implementations involve generating a unique token associated with a specific user account and sending it via email. If the application fails to bind this token strictly to the requesting session or if the token is predictable, an attacker can manipulate these elements. For instance, using sequential integer IDs for users rather than random UUIDs allows attackers to guess valid reset tokens by iterating through potential values. Alternatively, flaws in how the system handles multiple concurrent requests may allow a race condition where one user's reset link is used to change another user's password if session isolation is not enforced correctly.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and directly correlates with high-severity ratings in standard classification systems. It falls squarely under CWE-287, which describes Improper Authentication, as the system fails to adequately verify that the entity requesting a password reset is indeed the legitimate owner of the account. Furthermore, it aligns with MITRE ATT&CK technique T1098, specifically SSH or Application Account Manipulation and Credential Stuffing variants where attackers exploit weak identity verification to gain unauthorized access. Successful exploitation leads directly to Account Takeover (ATO), enabling the attacker to assume full control over the victim's digital identity. This can result in data exfiltration, financial fraud if payment methods are stored, reputational damage for the organization, and potential regulatory non-compliance with standards such as GDPR or HIPAA due to unauthorized access of sensitive personal information.
Mitigation strategies must focus on strengthening the cryptographic integrity and validation logic of the reset workflow. Developers should ensure that password reset tokens are generated using a cryptographically secure random number generator to prevent prediction attacks. These tokens must be short-lived, expiring after a brief window such as fifteen minutes, and must be invalidated immediately upon use or expiration. It is crucial to bind each token to specific session data, including the user agent string and IP address where possible, to detect anomalies indicative of automated attack tools. Additionally, implementing rate limiting on password reset requests prevents brute-force enumeration attempts against email addresses. Finally, conducting regular security code reviews focused on authentication flows and performing penetration testing that specifically targets identity management systems will help identify and remediate such flaws before they can be exploited in production environments.