CWE-836
Use of Password Hash Instead of Password for Authentication
Extended description
Some authentication mechanisms rely on the client to generate the hash for a password, possibly to reduce load on the server or avoid sending the password across the network. However, when the client is used to generate the hash, an attacker can bypass the authentication by obtaining a copy of the hash, e.g. by using SQL injection to compromise a database of authentication credentials, or by exploiting an information exposure. The attacker could then use a modified client to replay the stolen hash without having knowledge of the original password. As a result, the server-side comparison against a client-side hash does not provide any more security than the use of passwords without hashing.
Common consequences1
- Access ControlBypass Protection MechanismGain Privileges or Assume Identity
An attacker could bypass the authentication routine without knowing the original password.
CVEs referencing this CWE14
| CVE | Description | Severity | EPSS | Flags | Modified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2017-7927 | A Use of Password Hash Instead of Password for Authentication issue was discovered in Dahua DH-IPC-HDBW23A0RN-ZS, DH-IPC-HDBW13A0SN, DH-IPC-HDW1XXX, DH-IPC-HDW2XXX, DH-IPC-HDW4XXX, DH-IPC-HFW1XXX, DH-IPC-HFW2XXX, DH-IPC-HFW4XXX, DH-SD6CXX, DH-NVR1XXX, DH-HCVR4XXX, DH-HCVR5XXX, DHI-HCVR51A04HE-S3, DHI-HCVR51A08HE-S3, and DHI-HCVR58A32S-S2 devices. The use of password hash instead of password for authentication vulnerability was identified, which could allow a malicious user to bypass authentication without obtaining the actual password. | NONE | 37%p98 | 2026-05-13 | |
| CVE-2023-34132 | Use of password hash instead of password for authentication vulnerability in SonicWall GMS and Analytics allows Pass-the-Hash attacks. This issue affects GMS: 9.3.2-SP1 and earlier versions; Analytics: 2.5.0.4-R7 and earlier versions. | CRITICAL9.8 | 6.55%p93 | Weaponized | 2025-02-13 |
| CVE-2022-32282 | An improper password check exists in the login functionality of WWBN AVideo 11.6 and dev master commit 3f7c0364. An attacker that owns a users' password hash will be able to use it to directly login into the account, leading to increased privileges. | HIGH8.8 | 1.53%p71 | 2025-04-15 | |
| CVE-2021-23857 | Login with hash: The login routine allows the client to log in to the system not by using the password, but by using the hash of the password. Combined with CVE-2021-23858, this allows an attacker to subsequently login to the system. | CRITICAL9.8 | 1.19%p64 | 2024-11-21 | |
| CVE-2023-23614 | Pi-hole®'s Web interface (based off of AdminLTE) provides a central location to manage your Pi-hole. Versions 4.0 and above, prior to 5.18.3 are vulnerable to Insufficient Session Expiration. Improper use of admin WEBPASSWORD hash as "Remember me for 7 days" cookie value makes it possible for an attacker to "pass the hash" to login or reuse a theoretically expired "remember me" cookie. It also exposes the hash over the network and stores it unnecessarily in the browser. The cookie itself is set to expire after 7 days but its value will remain valid as long as the admin password doesn't change. If a cookie is leaked or compromised it could be used forever as long as the admin password is not changed. An attacker that obtained the password hash via an other attack vector (for example a path traversal vulnerability) could use it to login as the admin by setting the hash as the cookie value without the need to crack it to obtain the admin password (pass the hash). The hash is exposed over the network and in the browser where the cookie is transmitted and stored. This issue is patched in version 5.18.3. | HIGH8.8 | 0.97%p57 | 2025-03-10 | |
| CVE-2023-23450 | Use of Password Hash Instead of Password for Authentication in SICK FTMg AIR FLOW SENSOR with Partnumbers 1100214, 1100215, 1100216, 1120114, 1120116, 1122524, 1122526 allows an unprivileged remote attacker to use a password hash instead of an actual password to login to a valid user account via the REST interface. | CRITICAL9.8 | 0.71%p49 | 2026-06-01 | |
| CVE-2023-39546 | CLUSTERPRO X Ver5.1 and earlier and EXPRESSCLUSTER X 5.1 and earlier, CLUSTERPRO X SingleServerSafe 5.1 and earlier, EXPRESSCLUSTER X SingleServerSafe 5.1 and earlier allows a attacker to log in to the product may execute an arbitrary command. | HIGH8.8 | 0.63%p45 | 2024-11-21 | |
| CVE-2023-4299 | Digi RealPort Protocol is vulnerable to a replay attack that may allow an attacker to bypass authentication to access connected equipment. | HIGH8.1 | 0.55%p41 | 2025-01-16 | |
| CVE-2019-25552 | CEWE PHOTO SHOW 6.4.3 contains a denial of service vulnerability that allows attackers to crash the application by submitting an excessively long buffer to the password field. Attackers can paste a large string of repeated characters into the password input during the upload process to trigger an application crash. | HIGH7.5 | 0.40%p31 | 2026-04-10 | |
| CVE-2025-64471 | A use of password hash instead of password for authentication vulnerability [CWE-836] vulnerability in Fortinet FortiWeb 8.0.0 through 8.0.1, FortiWeb 7.6.0 through 7.6.5, FortiWeb 7.4.0 through 7.4.10, FortiWeb 7.2.0 through 7.2.11, FortiWeb 7.0.0 through 7.0.11 may allow an unauthenticated attacker to use the hash in place of the password to authenticate via crafted HTTP/HTTPS requests | HIGH7.5 | 0.29%p20 | 2026-01-14 | |
| CVE-2025-52543 | E3 Site Supervisor Control (firmware version < 2.31F01) application services (MGW and RCI) uses client side hashing for authentication. An attacker can authenticate by obtaining only the password hash. | HIGH7.5 | 0.28%p20 | 2025-10-01 | |
| CVE-2025-62618 | ELOG allows an authenticated user to upload arbitrary HTML files. The HTML content is executed in the context of other users when they open the file. Because ELOG includes usernames and password hashes in certain HTTP requests, an attacker can obtain the target's credentials and replay them or crack the password hash offline. In ELOG 3.1.5-20251014 release, HTML files are rendered as plain text. | HIGH8.0 | 0.25%p16 | 2025-11-10 | |
| CVE-2025-48925 | The TeleMessage service through 2025-05-05 relies on the client side (e.g., the TM SGNL app) to do MD5 hashing, and then accepts the hash as the authentication credential. | HIGH7.5 | 0.23%p14 | 2025-10-22 | |
| CVE-2026-40103 | Vikunja is an open-source self-hosted task management platform. Prior to 2.3.0, Vikunja's scoped API token enforcement for custom project background routes is method-confused. A token with only projects.background can successfully delete a project background, while a token with only projects.background_delete is rejected. This is a scoped-token authorization bypass. This vulnerability is fixed in 2.3.0. | MEDIUM5.4 | 0.22%p13 | 2026-04-24 |