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CVE-2026-102334 – Authentication Brute-Force via Missing Rate Limiting – Nginx Proxy Manager ≤ 2.16.

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Summary

CVE-2026-102334 is a missing rate-limiting (brute-force protection) vulnerability affecting Nginx Proxy Manager through version 2.16.0. The application’s authentication endpoints do not throttle or lock out repeated failed login attempts, allowing an unauthenticated network attacker to make unlimited password and TOTP (two-factor) code guesses against any account. Successful exploitation can lead to full administrative takeover of the Nginx Proxy Manager instance, rated high/critical severity.

Technical details

  • Root cause: The POST /api/tokens (login) and POST /api/tokens/2fa (TOTP verification) endpoints lack rate-limiting, account lockout, or CAPTCHA controls, so authentication attempts can be repeated without restriction (CWE-307: Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts).
  • Trigger conditions: No authentication or prior access is required; the endpoints are reachable by any client that can send HTTP requests to the exposed management interface.
  • Attack vector: Network-based. An attacker scripts repeated password guesses against POST /api/tokens to brute-force a known or guessed admin username, then, if TOTP-based two-factor authentication is enabled, brute-forces the numeric TOTP code via POST /api/tokens/2fa.
  • Impact: Successful credential and/or TOTP guessing yields a valid session token, granting full administrative access to the Nginx Proxy Manager control panel — which manages reverse proxy hosts, TLS certificates, and redirect/access rules for the protected environment.

Affected software

  • NginxProxyManager nginx-proxy-manager — all versions up to and including 2.16.0

Severity

  • CVSS v3.1: 7.4 (HIGH) — CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
  • A CVSS v4.0 score of 9.1 (CRITICAL) — CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N — has also been published for this vulnerability.

Mitigation and recommended actions

  • Immediate: Upgrade Nginx Proxy Manager beyond version 2.16.0 once a version containing rate-limiting protections for the authentication and 2FA endpoints is released. A fix (adding a sliding-window rate limiter on POST /tokens and POST /tokens/2fa) has been submitted upstream; monitor the official GitHub releases page and apply the patched release as soon as it is published.
  • If no patch is yet available:
    • Restrict network access to the Nginx Proxy Manager admin UI/API to trusted IP ranges or a VPN — do not expose the management interface directly to the internet.
    • Enforce strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication (TOTP) on all accounts to raise the brute-force cost.
    • Place the admin interface behind an additional authentication layer (e.g., reverse proxy with HTTP basic auth, IP allow-listing, or a WAF/rate-limiting proxy) to throttle repeated login attempts.
    • Monitor authentication logs for repeated failed login or 2FA verification attempts and alert on anomalous volumes.

References

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