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TI-2023-24876 Aliases CVE-2023-46249

authentik potential installation takeover when default admin user is deleted

Priority MEDIUM 49CWE-287Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Security bypass
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-287.

Summary

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.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00795 56th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed authentik (goauthentik): 2023.8.4, 2023.10.2

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
Yes
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
goauthentikauthentikbefore 2023.8.4; 2023.10.0 to before 2023.10.22023.8.4, 2023.10.2Patch availableCNA
  • authentik Vendorgoauthentik Affected before 2023.8.4; 2023.10.0 to before 2023.10.2 Fixed in 2023.8.4, 2023.10.2 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:goauthentik:authentik:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 2023.8.4; 2023.10.0 to before 2023.10.2Vulnerablegoauthentik
  • cpe:2.3:a:goauthentik:authentik:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2023.8.4; 2023.10.0 to before 2023.10.2 Vulnerable ·goauthentik

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA authentik (goauthentik) Fixed in 2023.8.4, 2023.10.2

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-46249
  2. 2026-10-14 EPSS moved to the 50th–90th percentile

References

Patch 2

Advisory 1

Other 2

  • TI-2026-36603 authentik: SourceStage bypass via empty POST CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2022-07608 authentik vulnerable to Improper Authentication via invitation URL token reuse CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.4
  • TI-2026-36598 authentik: `UserSourceConnection.user` and `GroupSourceConnection.group` are changeable through the API CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2022-22816 authentik allows existing authenticated users to create arbitrary accounts CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.4
  • TI-2024-25628 Insufficient access control for OAuth2 Device Code flow in authentik CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2024-34964 authentik has an insecure default configuration for OAuth2 Redirect URIs CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.9
See all 32 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences