PingAM: Authentication Bypass by Spoofing
CVE-2026-21391 is a critical-severity authentication bypass by spoofing vulnerability in PingAM from Ping Identity, with a CVSS 4.0 base score of 9.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 7.0.0 as the first without the flaw, so updating PingAM to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.58% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Update PingAM to 7.0.0 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on support.pingidentity.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ping Identity | PingAM | 8.1.0; 8.0.0 through 8.0.2; 7.5.0 through 7.5.2; 7.4.0 through 7.4.2; 7.3.0 through 7.3.3; 7.2.0 through 7.2.2; 7.1.0 through 7.1.4; 7.0.0 through 7.0.2; and 1 more ranges | 7.0.0 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Attack requirements
- PresentThe target must be in a specific state or configuration for the attack to work.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Confidentiality (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of confidentiality on the vulnerable system.
- Integrity (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of integrity on the vulnerable system.
- Availability (vulnerable system)
- LowLimited loss of availability on the vulnerable system.
- Confidentiality (other systems)
- HighSerious loss of confidentiality on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
- Integrity (other systems)
- HighSerious loss of integrity on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
- Availability (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of availability on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:L/SC:H/SI:H/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X. Scored by CNA (pingidentity.com).
Official description
An improper validation vulnerability exists within PingAM where a well-crafted request allows arbitrary or protected ID Token claims to be set or overridden. In certain configurations this could allow an attacker to bypass authentication controls via spoofing leading to privilege escalation or impersonation.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Authentication Bypass by Spoofing
This attack-focused weakness is caused by incorrectly implemented authentication schemes that are subject to spoofing attacks.
More Authentication Bypass by Spoofing vulnerabilities (CWE-290)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Recent Authentication Bypass by Spoofing vulnerabilities
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
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