CVE-2026-41940
CVE-2026-41940 — WebPros cPanel and WHM Authentication Bypass via Login Flow
cPanel and WHM versions after 11.40 contain an authentication bypass vulnerability in the login flow that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to the control panel.
Published Updated Sources: NVD, WebPros (CNA), CISA, FIRST EPSS, GitHub, Exploit-DB, SOCRadar CTI
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the scoring sources call it.
Exploitation
Confirmed
CISA KEV, listed Apr 30, 2026
EPSS
99%
top of FIRST's scoreset
CVSS base
9.8
critical · 2 sources
CISA SSVC assessment
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses · SSVC 2.0.3. A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Exploitation
Active
none · proof-of-concept · active
Automatable
Yes
can an attacker script all four kill-chain steps
Technical impact
Total
partial · total control of the vulnerable component
Remediation
The vendor's own words where we have them.
Upgrade cPanel to a fixed release (11.136.1.7). Apply vendor patches per advisory and restrict external exposure of the affected component until patched.
CISA required action
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Federal deadline May 3, 2026 — passed 119 days ago
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record's own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found.
- Identify exposed assets running affected vendor/product/version combinations.
- Treat as emergency remediation because CISA KEV status is present.
- Search available logs for exploit probes, errors, authentication anomalies, or suspicious child processes matching the vulnerability class.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and version as the advisories word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| WebPros | cPanel | 11.40.0.0 to < 11.86.0.41 | Vulnerable |
| WebPros | cPanel | 11.88.0.0 to < 11.94.0.28 | Vulnerable |
| WebPros | cPanel | 11.96.0.0 to < 11.102.0.39 | Vulnerable |
| WebPros | cPanel | 11.104.0.0 to < 11.110.0.97 | Vulnerable |
| WebPros | cPanel | 11.112.0.0 to < 11.118.0.63 | Vulnerable |
| WebPros | cPanel | 11.120.0.0 to < 11.124.0.35 | Vulnerable |
| WebPros | cPanel | 11.126.0.0 to < 11.126.0.54 | Vulnerable |
| WebPros | cPanel | 11.128.0.0 to < 11.130.0.19 | Vulnerable |
| WebPros | cPanel | 11.132.0.0 to < 11.132.0.29 | Vulnerable |
| WebPros | cPanel | 11.134.0.0 to < 11.134.0.20 | Vulnerable |
| WebPros | cPanel | 11.136.0.0 to < 11.136.0.5 | Vulnerable |
| WebPros | WP Squared | 11.136.1.7 | Patched |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Availability
High
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Scope
Unchanged
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Vector
Network
Privileges Req
None
User Interaction
None
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.8 | CVSS 3.1 | critical | 3.9 | 5.9 | VulnCheck (CNA), WebPros (CNA) |
| 9.3 | CVSS 4.0 | critical | — | — | WebPros (CNA) |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
What this weakness leads to
MITRE's own consequences and mitigations for the weakness class — the authority's wording, not guidance derived from the CVSS vector.
CWE-306 · Missing Authentication for Critical Function
- Gain Privileges or Assume Identity
- Other
Mitigation: Divide the software into anonymous, normal, privileged, and administrative areas. Identify which of these areas require a proven user identity, and use a centralized authentication capability. Identify all potential communication channels, or other means of interaction with the software, to ensure that all channels are appropriately protected. Developers sometimes perform authentication at the primary channel, but open up a secondary channel that is assumed to be private. For example, a login mechanism may be listening on one network port, but after successful authentication, it may open up a second port where it waits for the connection, but avoids authentication because it assumes that only the authenticated party will connect to the port. In general, if the software or protocol allows a single session or user state to persist across multiple connections or channels, authentication and appropriate credential management need to be used throughout.
Weakness & attack patterns
- CWE-306Missing Authentication for Critical Function
Attack patterns reported against this CVE. The ATT&CK techniques below are inferred from its weakness class.
CISA KEV details
CISA lists a CVE here once it has evidence of exploitation against real targets.
Listed
Apr 30, 2026
Federal deadline
May 3, 2026
passed 119 days ago
Ransomware use
Known
CISA records ransomware use only for campaigns it has confirmed, so “Unknown” means unrecorded, not ruled out. The deadline binds US federal agencies; for everyone else it is a date to argue against.
Public exploit
Capability, not use: code existing is a different claim from anyone running it.
Repositories
134
2 of the 5 sampled are weaponized
Exploit entries
38
Exploit-DB and CTI exploit indexes
Social mentions
Posts naming this CVE. Attention, not evidence of exploitation — it spikes on disclosure and decays whether or not anything is exploited.
CVE-2026-41940: cPanel & WHM Authentication Bypass - What It Means for Your Business and How to Respond https://t.co/6aEHXKQ5HG
@integ_sec· Aug 23, 2026
🚨 PUBLIC PoC: Exploit code is now available for CVE-2026-41940, a critical cPanel & WHM authentication bypass. The CVSS 9.8 flaw allows unauthenticated remote attackers to bypass the login flow and gain unauthorized control of the hosting panel. The vulnerability has already
@ThreatWire_· Aug 16, 2026
A PoC/exploit has been discovered for vulnerability CVE-2026-41940 Vendor: WebPros Product: cPanel Description: cPanel and WHM versions after 11.40 contain an authentication bypass vulnerability in the login flow that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to gain unauthorized
@ptdbugs· Aug 14, 2026
Antiy IEP for Linux can effectively detect and remove Sorry ransomware, which targets Linux servers via cPanel CVE-2026-41940, encrypts files with AES-RSA, and exfiltrates data before notifying a C2. https://t.co/Msq54mVWdy
@Cyber_O51NT· Aug 14, 2026
In April 2026, cPanel had a very bad week. CVE-2026-41940 hit roughly 1.5 million internet-facing servers. Pentera Labs Senior Cyber researcher Nir Chako asked a different question: what about everything else built like cPanel? Full research: https://t.co/ATfumLw85j https://t.co/faWZ6Jff2y
@penterasec· Aug 12, 2026
35 more posts on this CVEShowing 5 of 40 · Who is discussing this CVE, and how loudlyUnlock freeDetection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not rules we have tested.
- Prioritize edge telemetry for network-reachable cPanel, WP Squared, WHM.
- Monitor for scanner or exploit-pattern traffic after 172 public PoC repositories were reported.
Groups associated with this CVE
Groups reported in connection with this vulnerability. A reported association, not a confirmed observation of that group using it — and not scoped to any sector or campaign.
- ip43.228.157.6880
AbuseIPDB Hourly Update · Mar 3, 2026
- hostnamef5b0b742-240a-4811-8a5b-b0ba6060685d.dnshook.site86
Maltrail Malware Feeds · Jul 23, 2026
- hashfd34b305baa08afc14c5221e8f3d17023387e44491
SOCRadar Threat Exchange Services · Jul 30, 2026
- hash00dcd2ceb78f9691c47938642c30057fa8ca46fd91
SOCRadar Threat Exchange Services · Jul 30, 2026
- hash41957bd0ba2d9c07af2e069f10780fdf6b2102c065bebe0db2136dfe07d67a2891
SOCRadar Threat Exchange Services · Jul 29, 2026
5 more indicators on this CVEShowing 5 of 10 · Hashes, addresses and domains from a live threat exchangeUnlock freeTimeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first — with the readings a source repeats on a schedule counted underneath rather than listed.
- 2026
Cve is exploited Rosemary1337/CVE-2026-41940
Aug 19, 2026 · SOCRadar CTI
Cve is exploited lanicer/cve-2026-41940-PoC
Aug 19, 2026 · SOCRadar CTI
Cve is exploited pemarine/cve-2026-41940-PoC
Aug 14, 2026 · SOCRadar CTI
Cve is exploited CerberusMrXi/cPanel-WHM-CVE-2026-41940-auth-bypass-exploit
Jul 27, 2026 · SOCRadar CTI
Cve is exploited soverineg/cve-2026-41940-PoC
Jul 20, 2026 · SOCRadar CTI
Cve is exploited aquace/CVE-2026-41940-PoC
Jun 28, 2026 · SOCRadar CTI
Added · CVSS 3.1 9.8 (AV:N)
Jun 17, 2026 · NVD
Added · webapps entry: cPanel - CRLF Injection
May 26, 2026 · Exploit-DB
Added to CISA KEV catalog
Apr 30, 2026 · CISA
Initial · CVE published
Apr 29, 2026 · NVD
Source activity
Readings a source repeats on a schedule, counted rather than listed.
- 21×TweetsJul 6, 2026 – Aug 24, 2026 · SOCRadar CTI
- 10×Github ReposJul 18, 2026 – Aug 22, 2026 · SOCRadar CTI
- 2×TelegramJul 27, 2026 – Aug 17, 2026 · SOCRadar CTI
References
11 on the record
- docs.cpanel.net/release-notes/release-notes
Release Notes, NIST, Vendor Advisory
- docs.wpsquared.com/changelogs/versions/changelog/#13617
Release Notes, Vendor Advisory
- support.cpanel.net/hc/en-us/articles/40073787579671-cPanel-WHM-Security-Update-04-28-2026
Vendor Advisory
- www.namecheap.com/status-updates/ongoing-critical-security-vulnerability-in-cpanel-april-28-2026
Third Party Advisory, NIST
- www.vulncheck.com/advisories/cpanel-and-whm-authentication-bypass-via-login-flow
Third Party Advisory, NIST
- labs.watchtowr.com/the-internet-is-falling-down-falling-down-falling-down-cpanel-whm-authentication-bypass-cve-2026-41940/
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, NIST
- www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/critrical-cpanel-flaw-mass-exploited-in-sorry-ransomware-attacks/
Press/Media Coverage
- github.com/watchtowrlabs/watchTowr-vs-cPanel-WHM-AuthBypass-to-RCE.py
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, NIST
Coverage
21 stories from the feeds we poll
wp2shell (CVE-2026-63030, CVE-2026-60137): Frequently asked questions about remote code execution chain in WordPress Core
Tenable Blog · Jul 20, 2026
Aktive Ausnutzung einer schwerwiegenden Sicherheitslücke in cPanel und WHM
cert.at · Apr 30, 2026
CyberPress Weekly – Top 50 Cybersecurity Stories of the Week – Cl0p Windchill Zero-Day, Zimbra Attacks, 23M-User Breach, AI Exploits & More - cyberpress.org
cyberpress.org · Jul 27, 2026
Hackers Abuse GitHub Actions to Exploit cPanel and WHM Servers and Steal Cloud Credentials
cybersecuritynews.com · Jul 23, 2026
Hackers Turn GitHub Actions Into a Global Botnet for Attacking Web Hosting Servers - gbhackers.com
gbhackers.com · Jul 23, 2026
16 more reports on this CVEShowing 5 of 21 · Vendor research and security press coverageUnlock freeElsewhere on this site
- WebProsevery CVE for this vendor
- April 2026what else CISA listed
- Auth Bypasssame class
- CWE-306other pages naming this weakness
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- Only the 5 indicator(s) reported for this CVE are available; no packet-level or host-forensic artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record1
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-41940 is WebPros cPanel and WHM Authentication Bypass via Login Flow, a critical vulnerability affecting cPanel, WP Squared, WHM from WebPros. The current evidence lists it in CISA KEV, and the exploit status is: Yes: CISA KEV signal present. Public exploit evidence is: 172 public PoC repositories reported; 2 marked weaponized in current dataset. The affected-version evidence is listed in the key facts and affected products tables. Defenders should first verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run those versions, then apply vendor patches or mitigations, restrict reachable attack surface, and preserve logs for detection review. CVSS 9.8 describes technical severity, while EPSS 99% helps estimate near-term exploit likelihood; neither replaces asset context. Unknown fields should remain explicit in tickets, and threat actor, IOC, victimology, or payload claims should not be added unless a cited source supports them. Monitor CISA KEV, vendor advisories, NVD changes, public PoC repositories, and internal telemetry for update triggers.