CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-85962NVD status: Awaiting Analysis

MarkLogic Server: Improper Authentication

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2026-85962 is a high-severity improper authentication vulnerability in MarkLogic Server from Progress Software, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 11.3.7, 12.1.0 as the first without the flaw, so updating MarkLogic Server to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.31% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update MarkLogic Server to 11.3.7 or 12.1.0, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Progress SoftwareMarkLogic Server11.0.0 up to, but not including, 11.3.7; 12.0.0 up to, but not including, 12.1.011.3.7, 12.1.0

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.
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
NoneNo data is disclosed.
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:N/I:H/A:N. Scored by CNA (progress.com).

Official description

Progress MarkLogic Server 12.x releases before 12.1.0 and 11.x releases before 11.3.7 contain an improper authentication vulnerability in SAML processing. In deployments that use SAML authentication, an unauthenticated remote attacker could cause the affected server to accept an assertion that should be rejected, potentially resulting in unauthorized access.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Authentication

When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Use an authentication framework or library such as the OWASP ESAPI Authentication feature.

More Improper Authentication vulnerabilities (CWE-287)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in MarkLogic Server

All MarkLogic Server vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Authentication vulnerabilities

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