CVE-2026-23635 Overview
CVE-2026-23635 is an Unprotected Transport of Credentials vulnerability affecting Kiteworks Secure Data Forms, a component of the Kiteworks private data network (PDN). A misconfiguration of security attributes in versions prior to 9.2.1 could potentially allow sensitive credentials to be transmitted over unprotected channels under certain circumstances. This weakness falls under CWE-523 (Unprotected Transport of Credentials), which occurs when an application transmits authentication credentials without proper encryption or transport layer security.
Critical Impact
Sensitive user credentials may be exposed during transmission, potentially allowing attackers to intercept authentication data through network-based attacks such as man-in-the-middle scenarios.
Affected Products
- Kiteworks Secure Data Forms prior to version 9.2.1
- Kiteworks Private Data Network (PDN) deployments using vulnerable Secure Data Forms component
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-03-25 - CVE CVE-2026-23635 published to NVD
- 2026-03-26 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-23635
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability stems from a misconfiguration in the security attributes within Kiteworks Secure Data Forms. When certain conditions are met, the application may fail to enforce proper transport layer security for credential transmission. The network-based attack vector combined with high attack complexity indicates that exploitation requires specific network positioning and conditions to be successful. However, successful exploitation could result in high confidentiality impact as credentials could be intercepted, with low integrity impact from potential credential manipulation.
Root Cause
The root cause is a misconfiguration of security attributes within the Kiteworks Secure Data Forms component. This misconfiguration creates a condition where transport-layer protections for credentials may not be properly enforced, leaving authentication data vulnerable during transmission. CWE-523 specifically addresses scenarios where applications fail to adequately protect credentials during transit, whether through missing encryption, improper TLS configuration, or security attribute misconfigurations.
Attack Vector
The vulnerability is exploitable over the network (AV:N), though it requires high complexity conditions to exploit successfully. An attacker positioned to intercept network traffic between users and the Kiteworks Secure Data Forms application could potentially capture credentials transmitted over unprotected channels. This could occur through:
- Man-in-the-middle positioning on the network path
- Compromised network infrastructure between client and server
- Rogue access points or DNS poisoning scenarios
No proof-of-concept code is publicly available for this vulnerability. For technical details on the misconfiguration, refer to the GitHub Security Advisory.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-23635
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual network traffic patterns involving unencrypted credential transmission to Kiteworks endpoints
- Authentication events occurring over non-TLS connections when TLS should be enforced
- Network captures showing cleartext credentials in traffic destined for Secure Data Forms endpoints
- Unexpected authentication failures following potential credential theft
Detection Strategies
- Monitor network traffic for unencrypted HTTP connections to Kiteworks Secure Data Forms endpoints
- Implement network intrusion detection rules to alert on credential patterns transmitted over non-TLS channels
- Review web server and application logs for authentication requests over insecure protocols
- Deploy SSL/TLS inspection to verify proper encryption is being enforced on all credential-bearing traffic
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed logging on Kiteworks Secure Data Forms to capture transport security events
- Configure network monitoring tools to detect and alert on potential credential exposure scenarios
- Implement regular security configuration audits of Kiteworks deployments
- Monitor for anomalous authentication patterns that may indicate credential compromise
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-23635
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade Kiteworks Secure Data Forms to version 9.2.1 or later immediately
- Audit current Kiteworks security attribute configurations for transport layer security settings
- Ensure all Kiteworks endpoints are configured to enforce TLS for all credential transmissions
- Review access logs for any signs of credential interception or unauthorized access
- Consider rotating credentials for users who may have authenticated through affected systems
Patch Information
Kiteworks has addressed this vulnerability in version 9.2.1. Organizations should upgrade to this version or later to receive the security patch that corrects the misconfiguration of security attributes. The patch ensures proper transport layer protection for credentials under all circumstances. Detailed patch information is available in the GitHub Security Advisory.
Workarounds
- Enforce network-level TLS requirements using firewalls or load balancers as an additional layer of protection
- Implement network segmentation to limit potential attacker positioning for man-in-the-middle attacks
- Deploy HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) headers if not already configured
- Consider implementing certificate pinning for critical client applications accessing Kiteworks
# Verify TLS enforcement on Kiteworks endpoints
openssl s_client -connect your-kiteworks-server:443 -servername your-kiteworks-server
# Check for any HTTP (non-TLS) listeners that should be disabled
netstat -tlnp | grep -E ':80|:8080'
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
