Improper Authentication in Mastodon - CVE-2024-25618
Published: February 14, 2024 / Updated: April 23, 2026
Vulnerability identifier: #VU126971
CSH Severity: Low
CVSS v4: 6 [CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N]
CVE-ID: CVE-2024-25618
CWE-ID: CWE-287
Exploitation vector: Remote access
Exploit availability:
No public exploit available
Vulnerability details
The vulnerability allows a remote user to take over another user's account.
The vulnerability exists due to improper authentication in external authentication account linking when matching first-time logins to existing local users by e-mail address. A remote user can change the e-mail address on an external identity provider account and log in through the provider to take over another user's account.
Exploitation requires the external authentication provider to allow e-mail address changes or multiple authentication providers to be configured.
Affected software
Mastodon
How to mitigate CVE-2024-25618
Install security update from vendor's website.
Mastodon - addressed in versions 3.5.18, 4.0.14, 4.1.14, 4.2.6