CVE-2023-39522
Username enumeration attack in goauthentik
goauthentik is an open-source Identity Provider. In affected versions using a recovery flow with an identification stage an attacker is able to determine if a username exists. Only setups configured with a recovery flow are impacted by this. Anyone with a user account on a system with the recovery flow described above is susceptible to having their username/email revealed as existing. An attacker can easily enumerate and check users' existence using the recovery flow, as a clear message is shown when a user doesn't exist. Depending on configuration this can either be done by username, email, or both. This issue has been addressed in versions 2023.5.6 and 2023.6.2. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this issue.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- Low
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
5.3
Username enumeration attack in goauthentik
goauthentik is an open-source Identity Provider. In affected versions using a recovery flow with an identification stage an attacker is able to determine if a username exists. Only setups configured with a recovery flow are impacted by this. Anyone with a user account on a system with the recovery flow described above is susceptible to having their username/email revealed as existing. An attacker can easily enumerate and check users' existence using the recovery flow, as a clear message is shown when a user doesn't exist. Depending on configuration this can either be done by username, email, or both. This issue has been addressed in versions 2023.5.6 and 2023.6.2. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this issue.
- Record
CVE-2023-39522- CVSS 3.1
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-203
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2023-2364
5.3
goauthentik is an open-source Identity Provider. In affected versions using a recovery flow with an identification stage an attacker is able to determine if a username exists. Only setups configured with a recovery flow are impacted by this. Anyone with a user account on a system with the recovery flow described above is susceptible to having their username/email revealed as existing. An attacker can easily enumerate and check users' existence using the recovery flow, as a clear message is shown when a user doesn't exist. Depending on configuration this can either be done by username, email, or both. This issue has been addressed in versions 2023.5.6 and 2023.6.2. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this issue.
- Record
EUVD-2023-2364- CVSS 3.1
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-vmf9-6pcv-xr87
5.3
Withdrawn Advisory: Username enumeration attack in goauthentik
Withdrawn Advisory
This advisory has been withdrawn due to an incorrect package mapping error. This link is maintained to preserve external references.
Original Description
Summary
Using a recovery flow with an identification stage an attacker is able to determine if a username exists.
Impact
Only setups configured with a recovery flow are impacted by this. Anyone with a user account on a system with the recovery flow described above is susceptible to having their username/email revealed as existing.
Details
An attacker can easily enumerate and check users' existence using the recovery flow, as a clear message is shown when a user doesn't exist. Depending on configuration this can either be done by username, email, or both.
The invalid and valid usernames should both show the same message and always send an email. Article for reference here: https://postmarkapp.com/guides/password-reset-email-best-practices#how-to-make-sure-your-password-reset-emails-are-secure
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:
- Email us at [email protected]
- Record
GHSA-vmf9-6pcv-xr87- CVSS 3.1
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-203
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
5.3
goauthentik is an open-source Identity Provider. In affected versions using a recovery flow with an identification stage an attacker is able to determine if a username exists. Only setups configured with a recovery flow are impacted by this. Anyone with a user account on a system with the recovery flow described above is susceptible to having their username/email revealed as existing. An attacker can easily enumerate and check users' existence using the recovery flow, as a clear message is shown when a user doesn't exist. Depending on configuration this can either be done by username, email, or both. This issue has been addressed in versions 2023.5.6 and 2023.6.2. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this issue.
- Record
CVE-2023-39522- CVSS 3.1
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-203
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
5.3
Username enumeration attack in goauthentik
goauthentik is an open-source Identity Provider. In affected versions using a recovery flow with an identification stage an attacker is able to determine if a username exists. Only setups configured with a recovery flow are impacted by this. Anyone with a user account on a system with the recovery flow described above is susceptible to having their username/email revealed as existing. An attacker can easily enumerate and check users' existence using the recovery flow, as a clear message is shown when a user doesn't exist. Depending on configuration this can either be done by username, email, or both. This issue has been addressed in versions 2023.5.6 and 2023.6.2. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this issue.
- Record
CVE-2023-39522- CVSS 3.1
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-203
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-vmf9-6pcv-xr87
5.3
Withdrawn Advisory: Username enumeration attack in goauthentik
Withdrawn Advisory
This advisory has been withdrawn due to an incorrect package mapping error. This link is maintained to preserve external references.
Original Description
Summary
Using a recovery flow with an identification stage an attacker is able to determine if a username exists.
Impact
Only setups configured with a recovery flow are impacted by this. Anyone with a user account on a system with the recovery flow described above is susceptible to having their username/email revealed as existing.
Details
An attacker can easily enumerate and check users' existence using the recovery flow, as a clear message is shown when a user doesn't exist. Depending on configuration this can either be done by username, email, or both.
The invalid and valid usernames should both show the same message and always send an email. Article for reference here: https://postmarkapp.com/guides/password-reset-email-best-practices#how-to-make-sure-your-password-reset-emails-are-secure
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:
- Email us at [email protected]
- Record
GHSA-vmf9-6pcv-xr87- CVSS 3.1
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-203
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVBIT-authentik-2023-39522 No score
Username enumeration attack in goauthentik
goauthentik is an open-source Identity Provider. In affected versions using a recovery flow with an identification stage an attacker is able to determine if a username exists. Only setups configured with a recovery flow are impacted by this. Anyone with a user account on a system with the recovery flow described above is susceptible to having their username/email revealed as existing. An attacker can easily enumerate and check users' existence using the recovery flow, as a clear message is shown when a user doesn't exist. Depending on configuration this can either be done by username, email, or both. This issue has been addressed in versions 2023.5.6 and 2023.6.2. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this issue.
- Record
BIT-authentik-2023-39522- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
authentikBitnami |
before 2023.5.6, 2023.6.0 up to 2023.6.2 | 2023.5.62023.6.2 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected | ||
| aliases, published | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2023-39522 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.3) in Goauthentik Authentik, published August 29, 2023. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.62%, the 49th percentile. Fixed in authentik 2023.5.6.
References
github.com/goauthentik/authentik/security/advisories/GHSA-vmf9-6pcv-xr87
github.com/goauthentik/authentik/commit/aa874dd92a770d5f8cd8f265b7cdd31cd73a4599
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-39522
github.com/github/advisory-database/pull/8720
github.com/advisories/GHSA-vmf9-6pcv-xr87
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2023/39xxx/CVE-2023-39522.json
github.com/goauthentik/authentik