# CVE-2026-27856: Information disclosure in OX Dovecot Pro

> Attackers can exploit a timing oracle in Doveadm credential verification to discover credentials and gain full access to the mail server.

- **Severity:** High 7.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 27 Mar 2026
- **Updated:** 15 Jul 2026
- **Also known as:** ALPINE-CVE-2026-27856, AZL-81704, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-27856, GHSA-mv3x-9fw3-qf38, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-27856

## What is CVE-2026-27856?

CVE-2026-27856 is a high-severity vulnerability in Dovecot Dovecot, published on 27 Mar 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Doveadm credentials are verified using direct comparison which is susceptible to timing oracle attack. An attacker can use this to determine the configured credentials. Figuring out the credential will lead into full access to the affected component. Limit access to the doveadm http service port, install fixed version. No publicly available exploits are known.

Weakness: CWE-208 (Observable Timing Discrepancy), CWE-287 (Improper Authentication)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-27856?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Dovecot Dovecot, Open-Xchange Dovecot.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-27856?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2026-27856 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-27856 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Dovecot Dovecot

- [CVE-2026-24031](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24031/): Auth bypass in OX Dovecot Pro (high 7.7)
- [CVE-2025-59032](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-59032/): Denial of service in OX Dovecot Pro (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2026-27858](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-27858/): Denial of service in OX Dovecot Pro (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2021-29157](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-29157/): Path traversal in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2020-10957](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-10957/): Null dereference in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-27856 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-27856 is a high-severity vulnerability in Dovecot Dovecot, published on 27 Mar 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-27856 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Dovecot Dovecot. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-27856/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-27856/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-27856
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-27856
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-27856

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-27856/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.