CVE-2022-36045Network attack vector

Account takeover via predictable password-reset codes

Published Aug 31, 2022 · Updated Apr 23, 2025

Weak token generation in NodeBB 1.19.7 and earlier and 2.0.0 allows remote attackers to take over accounts through password resets. Server-side utils.generateUUID uses Math.random to create password-reset codes, so repeated reset requests expose predictable PRNG output that a crafted script can use to calculate a target's code. Exploitation requires the target email address but no authentication or victim interaction, and successful use grants control of the targeted account.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability1.29%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Weak token generation in NodeBB 1.19.7 and earlier and 2.0.0 allows remote attackers to take over accounts through password resets. Server-side utils.generateUUID uses Math.random to create password-reset codes, so repeated reset requests expose predictable PRNG output that a crafted script can use to calculate a target's code. Exploitation requires the target email address but no authentication or victim interaction, and successful use grants control of the targeted account.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-36045
Published
Aug 31, 2022
Updated
Apr 23, 2025
Vendor
NodeBB
Product
NodeBB
Classifications
CWE-338, T1078
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 31, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 23, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=< 1.19.8
  2. Affected versionversion== 2.0.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

NodeBB · NodeBBversion=< 1.19.8; version== 2.0.0

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-338Use of Cryptographically Weak Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG)
T1078Valid Accounts

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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