CVE-2023-28609Network attack vector

Unauthenticated API access via nonterminating middleware

Published Mar 18, 2023 · Updated Feb 26, 2025

Authentication bypass in Ansible Semaphore before 2.8.89 allows remote attackers to reach protected API handlers without valid credentials. The authentication middleware writes an HTTP 401 response when validation fails but still calls the downstream handler, so rejected requests continue into protected routes. No privileges or user interaction are required; accessible handler behavior determines which data or administrative operations are exposed.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.87%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in Ansible Semaphore before 2.8.89 allows remote attackers to reach protected API handlers without valid credentials. The authentication middleware writes an HTTP 401 response when validation fails but still calls the downstream handler, so rejected requests continue into protected routes. No privileges or user interaction are required; accessible handler behavior determines which data or administrative operations are exposed.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-28609
Published
Mar 18, 2023
Updated
Feb 26, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-287, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 18, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 26, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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.

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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-287Improper Authentication
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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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