Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A Dovecot SQL authentication configuration can let attackers bypass login checks if an administrator cleared auth_username_chars. That could allow access as any user and expose valid usernames. The issue is high severity, but the source says exploitation requires the unsafe configuration and no public exploits are known.
Executive priority
Prioritize review of internet-facing mail authentication systems using Dovecot SQL authentication. This is not a broad default-risk signal from the bundle, but affected configurations could permit account compromise, making same-week validation appropriate.
Technical view
CVE-2026-24031 is a Dovecot SQL authentication bypass tied to clearing auth_username_chars. It is classified as CWE-89 with CVSS 3.1 score 7.7: network reachable, unauthenticated, no user interaction, high complexity, and high confidentiality/integrity impact. Version applicability is not fully clear from the provided bundle.
Likely exposure
Likely exposure is limited to Dovecot or OX Dovecot Pro deployments using SQL-based authentication where auth_username_chars was cleared. The provided affected-version data is incomplete and shows defaultStatus as unaffected, so asset owners should verify their exact vendor advisory status.
Exploitation context
The bundle states no publicly available exploits are known, and KEV status is false. The CVSS vector indicates unauthenticated network reachability, but high attack complexity and a specific unsafe admin configuration. Do not treat this as confirmed active exploitation from the provided evidence.
Researcher notes
Key unknowns are precise affected version ranges and downstream package status. The source bundle provides the unsafe configuration, impact, CVSS, and mitigation direction, but not complete product/version mapping. Avoid claiming exploitation beyond the stated absence of known public exploits.
Mitigation direction
- Do not clear auth_username_chars.
- Restore a safe auth_username_chars value where it was cleared.
- If restoration is impossible, install the latest fixed vendor version.
- Review Open-Xchange and distribution advisories for exact affected versions.
- Monitor vendor channels for updated remediation guidance.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Dovecot systems using SQL-based authentication.
- Check whether auth_username_chars is cleared in deployed configuration.
- Confirm installed package versions against vendor and distribution advisories.
- Review authentication logs for unusual user enumeration or login anomalies.
- Document whether each deployment is affected, mitigated, or not exposed.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-89: Database access and collection lookup
Injection into data stores can inform collection, data access, and exfiltration detection reviews. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2026-24031 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.7 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
2 official scoresWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L2.25.5OXCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L2.25.5redhat-SADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.7HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.7HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- ADP timelineredhat-SADP
Made public.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- ADP timelineredhat-SADP
Reported to Red Hat.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
- 2026-03-27T09:02:06.766Z: Reported to Red Hat.
- 2026-03-27T08:10:18.100Z: Made public.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://documentation.open-xchange.com/dovecot/security/advisories/csaf/2026/oxdc-adv-2026-0001.jsonCVE reference, OX · vendor-advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-24031CVE reference, redhat-SADP · vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT
- RHBZ#2452181CVE reference, redhat-SADP · issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT
- https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-24031.jsonCVE reference, redhat-SADP · x_sadp-csaf-vex
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.