Credential recovery via nonconstant-time Randnum comparison
Published May 21, 2026 · Updated May 21, 2026
Observable timing discrepancy in Netatalk 1.5.0 through 4.4.2 allows remote attackers to recover authentication credentials via Randnum requests. The Randnum UAM uses DES in ECB mode and compares authentication data with a nonconstant-time operation, exposing response-time differences. The legacy Randnum UAM is disabled by default; exposure requires an administrator to enable it, and the consequence is password-equivalent disclosure or offline attack rather than code execution.
Summary
What happened
Observable timing discrepancy in Netatalk 1.5.0 through 4.4.2 allows remote attackers to recover authentication credentials via Randnum requests. The Randnum UAM uses DES in ECB mode and compares authentication data with a nonconstant-time operation, exposing response-time differences. The legacy Randnum UAM is disabled by default; exposure requires an administrator to enable it, and the consequence is password-equivalent disclosure or offline attack rather than code execution.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-44061
- Published
- May 21, 2026
- Updated
- May 21, 2026
- Vendor
- Netatalk
- Product
- Netatalk
- Classifications
- CWE-208
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 21, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 21, 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.
- Affected versionversion=1.5.0 <=4.4.2
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Netatalk 4.4.2 disclosure packageproof of concept · unverified
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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