CVE-2026-73431

Reusable Account Activation and Recovery Tokens Allow Repeated Account Takeover in vulnerability-lookup

Published Aug 12, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 8.8 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Vulnerability-Lookup contains an
authentication weakness in its account activation and password-recovery
mechanism. Activation and recovery links were generated using stateless
signed tokens containing only the user's login. Although the token
signature and age were validated, the application did not track whether a
token had already been successfully used. As a result, a captured
activation or password-recovery link remained valid for the entire
configured TOKEN_VALIDITY_PERIOD, even after the associated password had been changed.


An attacker who obtains a valid
activation or recovery token could therefore replay it multiple times
during its validity period to set a new password and repeatedly take
control of the affected account. In addition, tokens were not bound to a
specific purpose, allowing the same token mechanism to be used across
activation and recovery workflows. The patch introduces purpose-bound
tokens and a random nonce whose SHA-256 digest is stored with the user
account. The nonce is invalidated after a successful password change,
making tokens single-use, while issuing a new token invalidates any
previously issued token. The password-setting operation now explicitly consumes the token before committing the account change.


Successful exploitation requires
the attacker to obtain a currently valid activation or recovery link,
but does not require knowledge of the victim's existing password or an
authenticated session.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Circl
Circl vulnerability-lookup
Vendors & Products Circl
Circl vulnerability-lookup
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Vulnerability-Lookup contains an authentication weakness in its account activation and password-recovery mechanism. Activation and recovery links were generated using stateless signed tokens containing only the user's login. Although the token signature and age were validated, the application did not track whether a token had already been successfully used. As a result, a captured activation or password-recovery link remained valid for the entire configured TOKEN_VALIDITY_PERIOD, even after the associated password had been changed. An attacker who obtains a valid activation or recovery token could therefore replay it multiple times during its validity period to set a new password and repeatedly take control of the affected account. In addition, tokens were not bound to a specific purpose, allowing the same token mechanism to be used across activation and recovery workflows. The patch introduces purpose-bound tokens and a random nonce whose SHA-256 digest is stored with the user account. The nonce is invalidated after a successful password change, making tokens single-use, while issuing a new token invalidates any previously issued token. The password-setting operation now explicitly consumes the token before committing the account change. Successful exploitation requires the attacker to obtain a currently valid activation or recovery link, but does not require knowledge of the victim's existing password or an authenticated session.
Title Reusable Account Activation and Recovery Tokens Allow Repeated Account Takeover in vulnerability-lookup
Weaknesses CWE-294
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 8.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
CIRCL
Published
Updated
Aug 12, 2026, 5:07 PM
Reserved
Aug 12, 2026, 2:32 PM
Status
Deferred
Published
Aug 12, 2026, 3:18 PM
Modified
Aug 26, 2026, 4:49 PM