CVE-2023-23755Network attack vector

Protected-data exposure via unlimited MFA guesses

Published May 30, 2023 · Updated Aug 12, 2026

Improper attempt restriction in Joomla! CMS 4.2.0 through 4.3.1 allows remote attackers to read protected data by brute-forcing MFA. The MFA challenge screen processes repeated factor submissions without rate limiting; Joomla has not disclosed a more specific code locus. A target account must have MFA enabled and primary authentication must succeed before guessing; a correct factor exposes data available to that account.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.56%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper attempt restriction in Joomla! CMS 4.2.0 through 4.3.1 allows remote attackers to read protected data by brute-forcing MFA. The MFA challenge screen processes repeated factor submissions without rate limiting; Joomla has not disclosed a more specific code locus. A target account must have MFA enabled and primary authentication must succeed before guessing; a correct factor exposes data available to that account.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-23755
Published
May 30, 2023
Updated
Aug 12, 2026
Vendor
Joomla! Project
Product
Joomla! CMS
Classifications
CWE-307, T1110
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 30, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 12, 2026Record 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=4.2.0-4.3.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Joomla! Project · Joomla! CMSversion=4.2.0-4.3.1

Published CVSS scores

7.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
7.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-307Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts
T1110Brute Force

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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