External risk intelligence

macrozheng mall Unauthenticated Password Reset via OTP Disclosure

CVE advisorySeverity: CRITICAL (CVSS 9.3)

CVE-2026-25858

The vulnerability exists in the mall-portal password reset workflow of a web application. Such components are commonly deployed as public-facing services to allow users to register, log in, and manage their own accounts over the internet.

Macrozheng Mall

1.0.3 and earlier

Halo Surface Signal: 4 out of 5 — likely to be public-facing.

External exposure likelihood

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

This vulnerability in the mall-portal password reset process allows an attacker to take over user accounts by exploiting a flaw in how one-time passwords are handled. While the full impact depends on whether this specific technology is in use, it highlights a critical need to verify the security of identity and access management workflows across our digital assets.

Unauthenticated attackers can reset any user's password.
It impacts user account security and identity management.
Confirm relevance and exposure for any affected systems.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by targeting the password reset feature of the mall-portal. Without needing any prior authentication or access, an attacker can leverage a victim's known or guessable telephone number to initiate a password reset. The vulnerability lies in how the system handles the one-time password (OTP), which is exposed in the API response and used for validation without confirming the identity of the requestor. This allows for remote account takeover, impacting any user whose telephone number is compromised.

No authentication needed to start.
OTP exposed in API response.
Remote account takeover risk.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

An unauthenticated attacker could take over any user account that has a telephone number known or guessable by the attacker. This is possible because the password reset process for the mall portal allows an attacker to obtain and use a one-time password (OTP) without verifying the identity of the user requesting the reset.

User account access.
OTP exposed in API response.
Remote account takeover possible.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

This vulnerability affects macrozheng mall, likely managed by application or platform teams responsible for user account management. The immediate priority is to identify all instances of the affected software, confirm their accessibility and business criticality, and then determine the correct owner for remediation planning.

Identify affected mall deployments and owners.
Verify reachability and business criticality.
Plan remediation based on identified risk.

Supplementary metadata

CVSS vector

Validate whether this threat affects your internet-facing exposure.

Halo Threat Intelligence helps prioritize remediation with Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context. Start exposure validation with a free external attack surface trial.

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Frequently asked questions

What is macrozheng mall?

macrozheng mall is an open-source e-commerce solution typically used to build online storefronts. It includes a frontend portal—the mall-portal—which manages core user interactions like registration, login, and account recovery. This software acts as the foundation for digital retail platforms, handling sensitive user data and credentials.

How does CVE-2026-25858 work?

This vulnerability is a case of CWE-640, or weak password recovery. It stems from a flaw in the password reset logic where the server sends the one-time password (OTP) directly back to the requester in an API response. Because the system fails to verify that the requestor actually owns the telephone number, an attacker can simply read the OTP provided by the server to set a new password for any account.

What triggers this password reset bug?

An attacker triggers the vulnerability by sending a password reset request for a target account using only a telephone number. This process does not require the attacker to be logged in or possess the victim's device. Simply knowing or guessing a valid telephone number associated with an account is sufficient; the system does not require proof of account ownership or secondary authentication to complete the password change.

Is my system at risk?

According to Halo Surface Signal, this vulnerability is particularly relevant because the mall-portal is often deployed as a public-facing service. Any instance of the software reachable over the internet is a potential target for remote account takeover. You should prioritize checking any public-facing mall deployments, as these are the most accessible entry points for an attacker attempting to exploit this reset workflow.

How do I address CVE-2026-25858?

First, locate all running instances of macrozheng mall within your environment to determine which systems are using the vulnerable mall-portal component. Once identified, evaluate the business criticality and network exposure of these instances. Coordinate with the teams managing these applications to prioritize them for updates or security configuration changes, as this is a high-priority issue affecting fundamental user account security.

References

Written by Nicholas Merritt

Nicholas Merritt is VP of Security Solutions at Halo Security. With more than 25 years across application security, vulnerability prioritization, and offensive security, he helps teams translate threat data into practical exposure validation and remediation focus. He authors Halo Threat Intelligence CVE advisories using Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context to prioritize internet-facing risk.