---
title: "CVE-2026-85972: Progress MarkLogic Server - Authentication Bypass"
description: "Progress MarkLogic Server < 12.1.0 and < 11.3.7 contain a broken authentication caused by insufficient verification of Kerberos authentication service identity in certain password-based configurations, letting network-positioned attackers impersonate trusted infrastructure and gain unauthorized access or modify protected data, exploit requires specific password-based authentication configuration."
url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-85972/
---

# CVE-2026-85972 Progress MarkLogic Server - Authentication Bypass

Progress MarkLogic Server < 12.1.0 and < 11.3.7 contain a broken authentication caused by insufficient verification of Kerberos authentication service identity in certain password-based configurations, letting network-positioned attackers impersonate trusted infrastructure and gain unauthorized access or modify protected data, exploit requires specific password-based authentication configuration.

CVSS base score 7.4 /10

High

CISA KEV

Not listed

Public exploit

None known

EPSS

0.25% chance of exploitation in 30 days

[View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-85972)

## Details

Type

Authentication Bypass

Impact

Broken Access Control, Data Tampering

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

Published

12 October 2026

Updated

15 October 2026

Weakness

[CWE-303](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/303.html)

## Vendor fix

Upgrade to version 12.1.0 or 11.3.7 or later.

Patching closes this CVE. It does not tell you which of your systems run the affected version, or what else is exposed alongside them.

## References

- [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-85972](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-85972)
- [https://community.progress.com/s/article/Marklogic-Critical-Security-Alert-Bulletin-October-2026](https://community.progress.com/s/article/Marklogic-Critical-Security-Alert-Bulletin-October-2026)

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## What this record can't tell you

- Whether you run the affected software, and where
- Whether an attacker can actually reach and exploit it
- The misconfigurations that never get a CVE number
- What it would cost the business, ranked into what to fix first

Panop answers these inside your environment, for this CVE and every other finding.

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