UFO: Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality
CVE-2026-73296 is a critical-severity missing authentication for critical functionality vulnerability in UFO from Microsoft, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.4 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected UFO versions: < 3.0.8. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 3.65% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 90% of scored CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Check which version of UFO you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on github.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
- LowPerformance or availability is reduced.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L. Scored by CNA (github.com).
Official description
Microsoft UFO open-source framework for intelligent automation across devices and platforms. Prior to 3.0.8, create_mobile_data_collection_server and create_mobile_action_server in ufo/client/mcp/http_servers/mobile_mcp_server.py exposed Streamable HTTP MCP services on TCP ports 8020 and 8021 without authentication, allowing an unauthenticated remote attacker to invoke capture_screenshot, get_ui_tree, tap, swipe, type_text, launch_app, press_key, and click_control against an ADB-connected Android device, disclose screen and device data, and modify device state. This issue is fixed in version 3.0.8.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality
The product does not perform any authentication for functionality that requires a provable user identity or consumes a significant amount of resources.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. For example, consider using libraries with authentication capabilities such as OpenSSL or the ESAPI Authenticator.
- When storing data in the cloud (e.g., S3 buckets, Azure blobs, Google Cloud Storage, etc.), use the provider's controls to require strong authentication for users who should be allowed to access the data.
More Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality vulnerabilities (CWE-306)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Other vulnerabilities in UFO
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
Recent Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality vulnerabilities
- 8.2 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 10.0 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
Spotted an error? Tell us.