CVE-2026-23901 — Apache Shiro: Brute force attack possible to determine valid user names
Observable Timing Discrepancy vulnerability in Apache Shiro. This issue affects Apache Shiro: from 1.*, 2.* before 2.0.7. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 2.0.7 or later, which fixes the issue. Prior to Shiro 2.0.7, code paths for non-existent vs. existing users are different enough, that a brute-force attack may be able to tell, by timing the requests only, determine if the request failed because of a non-existent user vs. wrong password. The most likely attack vector is a local attack only. Shiro security model https://shiro.apache.org/security-model.html#username_enumeration discusses this as well. Typically, brute force attack can be mitigated at the infrastructure level.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- EPSS 0.2% (30-day exploitation probability)+2
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
CISA SSVC assessment CISA
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Apache Software Foundation Shiro).
- No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
- Search available logs for exploit probes, errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apache Software Foundation | Shiro | < 2.0.7 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Apache Software Foundation | Shiro | < 2.0.7 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | CVSS 4.0 | Low | — | — | security@apache.org via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 1.0 | CVSS 4.0 | Low | — | — | apache via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| 2.5 | CVSS 3.1 | Low | 1.0 | 1.4 | nvd@nist.gov via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N (score shown at the top: nvd@nist.gov) Weakness MITRE
Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.
EPSS over time FIRST
Oct 13, 2026 → Oct 14, 2026 · 2 reading(s) · max 0.25%
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Local/physical vector: focus on endpoint telemetry (EDR) from affected hosts.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · apache software foundation/apache shiro
- SSVC assessment updated
- Record published
- CVSS changed · 2.5
- Source status changed · → Analyzed
- Record created in this database
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
References
2 on the record
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Medium CVE-2026-58301 Apache Shiro: Server-side POST request may be steered to an alternate host Aug 31, 2026
- High CVE-2026-56091 Apache Shiro: Authentication bypass in Guice-Web integration Jun 25, 2026
- Low CVE-2026-56130 Apache Shiro: Remember-me cookie isn't checked for expiry on the server Jun 25, 2026
- Critical CVE-2026-49268 Apache Shiro: LDAP DN Injection in DefaultLdapRealm Jun 17, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-48589 Apache Shiro: Jakarta EE open redirect via untrusted Referer in post-login redirect flow May 25, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-43827 Apache Shiro: Session fixation: new session is not created after login by default May 25, 2026
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-23901 is "Apache Shiro: Brute force attack possible to determine valid user names", rated Low. It affects Shiro (Apache Software Foundation); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 2.5 describes technical severity. EPSS 0.25% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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