CVE-2023-46249
Published: 31 October 2023
Summary
CVE-2023-46249 is a critical-severity Improper Authentication (CWE-287) vulnerability in Goauthentik Authentik. Its CVSS base score is 9.6 (Critical).
Operationally, ranked in the top 27.8% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-50479
Vulnerability details
authentik is an open-source Identity Provider. Prior to versions 2023.8.4 and 2023.10.2, when the default admin user has been deleted, it is potentially possible for an attacker to set the password of the default admin user without any authentication. authentik…
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uses a blueprint to create the default admin user, which can also optionally set the default admin users' password from an environment variable. When the user is deleted, the `initial-setup` flow used to configure authentik after the first installation becomes available again. authentik 2023.8.4 and 2023.10.2 fix this issue. As a workaround, ensure the default admin user (Username `akadmin`) exists and has a password set. It is recommended to use a very strong password for this user, and store it in a secure location like a password manager. It is also possible to deactivate the user to prevent any logins as akadmin.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Session content review can reveal authentication bypasses or failures in session establishment.
Assessments check authentication mechanisms for correct implementation and effectiveness, reducing successful authentication bypass attempts.
Documented IA policy and procedures require proper authentication mechanisms to be defined and followed, reducing improper authentication.
Requires adaptive authentication under specific conditions, directly strengthening authentication mechanisms against improper or insufficient authentication.
Identity providers centralize and enforce authentication mechanisms, reducing improper authentication.
Requires unique identification and authentication of organizational users, directly preventing improper authentication.
Enforces unique device identification and authentication before any connection is established, directly mitigating improper authentication weaknesses.
Directly requires implementation of compliant authentication mechanisms to cryptographic modules, preventing improper authentication.