# CVE-2021-32648: Account Takeover in Octobercms

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-32648-october-cms-improper-authentication  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2021-08-30. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2021-32648 · Severity: critical · CVSS 3.1 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2021-08-30

An improper authentication vulnerability in October CMS allows an attacker to gain unauthorized access to an account. By requesting a password reset and providing a specially crafted request, the attacker can bypass authentication mechanisms.

Technologies: [October CMS](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/october-cms), [october/system (Packagist)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/october-system). Vendors: [October CMS](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/october-cms), [Packagist](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/packagist).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2021-32648 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2021-32648 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 18 January 2022. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2021-32648?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 30 August 2021.

**Which products and versions are affected?** october/system (Packagist) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=1.0.472.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2021-32648?** Yes. october/system (Packagist): upgrade to 1.0.472 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2021-32648 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a web application.

**Am I affected by CVE-2021-32648?** Check whether you run October CMS or october/system (Packagist) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- october/system (Packagist): upgrade to 1.0.472 or later

  ```sh
  composer require october/system:^1.0.472
  ```


## Affected products

- October CMS October CMS >= 1.0.471, < 1.0.472; >= 1.1.1, < 1.1.5

## Identifiers

- CVE-2021-32648
- GHSA-mxr5-mc97-63rc

## Timeline

- 2021-08-26: disclosed: Initial advisory publication date (implied by CVE ID and GitHub advisory)
- 2022-01-18: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2022-01-18: disclosed: NVD publication date
- 2021-08-26: patched: Patched in Build 472 and v1.1.5
- exploited: Reported as exploited in the wild and listed in CISA KEV catalog.

## Related threats

- [October CMS PHP object injection in widget session storage](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-49400-october-cms-php-object-injection-in-widget-session-storage)
- [October CMS Twig sandbox bypass in Safe Mode](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-46696-october-cms-twig-sandbox-bypass-in-safe-mode)
- [October CMS: Editor Sub-Permission Bypass for Asset and Blueprint File Operations](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-29179-october-cms-editor-sub-permission-bypass-for-asset-and-blueprint)
- [October CMS: Reflected XSS via DataTable Form Widget](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-27937-october-cms-reflected-xss-via-datatable-form-widget)
- [October CMS has Safe Mode Bypass via CSS Preprocessor Compilers](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-26067-october-cms-has-safe-mode-bypass-via-css-preprocessor-compilers)