CVE-2026-32730: ApostropheCMS MFA/TOTP Bypass via Incorrect MongoDB Query in Bearer Token Middleware

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2026-32730 is a high (CVSS 8.1) Improper Authentication vulnerability in apostrophecms apostrophe. EPSS estimates a 0.50% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 42.1% of scored vulnerabilities. 1 public exploit is recorded.

Timeline

1. 18-03-2026
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 19-03-2026
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

ApostropheCMS is an open-source content management framework. Prior to version 4.28.0, the bearer token authentication middleware in `@apostrophecms/express/index.js` (lines 386-389) contains an incorrect MongoDB query that allows incomplete login tokens — where the password was verified but TOTP/MFA requirements were NOT — to be used as fully authenticated bearer tokens. This completely bypasses multi-factor authentication for any ApostropheCMS deployment using `@apostrophecms/login-totp` or any custom `afterPasswordVerified` login requirement. Version 4.28.0 fixes the issue.

• CWE-287Improper AuthenticationWhen an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.
• CWE-305Authentication Bypass by Primary WeaknessThe authentication algorithm is sound, but the implemented mechanism can be bypassed as the result of a separate weakness that is primary to the authentication error.