---
title: "CVE-2026-86248: Apache Tomcat - Authentication Bypass"
description: "Apache Tomcat 11.0.0-M14 through 11.0.25, 10.1.22 through 10.1.59, and 9.0.92 through 9.0.121 contain an authentication bypass caused by CLIENT_CERT authentication not failing as expected when soft fail is disabled, letting attackers bypass authentication, exploit requires specific CLIENT_CERT soft fail configuration."
url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-86248/
---

# CVE-2026-86248 Apache Tomcat - Authentication Bypass

Apache Tomcat 11.0.0-M14 through 11.0.25, 10.1.22 through 10.1.59, and 9.0.92 through 9.0.121 contain an authentication bypass caused by CLIENT\_CERT authentication not failing as expected when soft fail is disabled, letting attackers bypass authentication, exploit requires specific CLIENT\_CERT soft fail configuration.

CVSS base score 9.8 /10

Critical

CISA KEV

Not listed

Public exploit

None known

EPSS

0.39% chance of exploitation in 30 days

[View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-86248)

## Details

Type

Authentication Bypass

Impact

Broken Authentication

CVSS vector

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

Published

23 September 2026

Updated

15 October 2026

Weakness

[CWE-287](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/287.html)

## Vendor fix

Upgrade to versions 11.0.26, 10.1.60, or 9.0.122.

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-2026-86248](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-86248)
- [https://lists.apache.org/thread/nmkmjp9l53y8h3oc4n8fc0bkw9dv15sk](https://lists.apache.org/thread/nmkmjp9l53y8h3oc4n8fc0bkw9dv15sk)

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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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