Unauthenticated account access via ignored password result
Published Jan 8, 2026 · Updated Jan 8, 2026
Improper authentication in IceWhale Technology Limited ZimaOS 1.5.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to access privileged accounts. The /v1/users/login handler accepts any password when the username names a system service account because it mishandles the password-validation result. Knowledge of a common account name such as root or www-data is sufficient for unauthenticated, unrestricted application access.
Summary
What happened
Improper authentication in IceWhale Technology Limited ZimaOS 1.5.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to access privileged accounts. The /v1/users/login handler accepts any password when the username names a system service account because it mishandles the password-validation result. Knowledge of a common account name such as root or www-data is sufficient for unauthenticated, unrestricted application access.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-21891
- Published
- Jan 8, 2026
- Updated
- Jan 8, 2026
- Vendor
- IceWhale Technology Limited
- Product
- ZimaOS
- Classifications
- CWE-287, T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 8, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jan 8, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
- Mar 7, 2026Exploitation reportedShadowserver honeypot exploitation attempts
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.
- Affected versionversion=<= 1.5.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Public exploit references
- Vendor login-bypass curl proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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Reported exploitation
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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