Zabbix: Use of Hard-coded Password
CVE-2026-23933 is a critical-severity use of hard-coded password vulnerability in Zabbix, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected Zabbix versions: 7.4.0 through 7.4.10. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.57% 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
- Check which version of Zabbix you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on support.zabbix.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
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.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 7.7 | High | CNA (zabbix.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.1 | Critical | NVD |
Official description
In Zabbix 7.4 the cryptographic key used for signing Frontend sessions has been erroneously written to the database seed. Currently the only known exploitation scenario is for deployments that utilize both - SAML authentication and guest users. In such cases the key can be used to forge valid session cookies, potentially leading to unauthorized access. For other Zabbix deployments this does not have a known impact.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Use of Hard-coded Password
The product contains a hard-coded password, which it uses for its own inbound authentication or for outbound authentication to external components.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- For outbound authentication: store passwords outside of the code in a strongly-protected, encrypted configuration file or database that is protected from access by all outsiders, including other local users on the same system. Properly protect the key (CWE-320). If you cannot use encryption to protect the file, then make sure that the permissions are as restrictive as possible.
- For inbound authentication: Rather than hard-code a default username and password for first time logins, utilize a first login mode that requires the user to enter a unique strong password.
- Perform access control checks and limit which entities can access the feature that requires the hard-coded password. For example, a feature might only be enabled through the system console instead of through a network connection.
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
Advisories
Other vulnerabilities in Zabbix
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.3 High severity
Recent Use of Hard-coded Password vulnerabilities
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 5.3 Medium severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
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