CVE-2023-46249
9.6 · CRITICALOverview
CVE-2023-46249 is a critical-severity vulnerability affecting goauthentik authentik. It was published on October 31, 2023 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.6 (CRITICAL).
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.6, rated CRITICAL. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
Technical Description
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 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.
Remediation
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from goauthentik. Update authentik to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| goauthentik | authentik | >= 0, < 2023.8.4 | Affected |
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2023-46249?
CVE-2023-46249 is a critical-severity vulnerability affecting goauthentik authentik. It was published on October 31, 2023 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.6 (CRITICAL).
How severe is CVE-2023-46249?
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.6, rated CRITICAL. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
How do I fix or remediate CVE-2023-46249?
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from goauthentik. Update authentik to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2023-46249?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2023-46249 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.
How CyberStrike Helps
AI agents map your attack surface to find vulnerabilities like this one.
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