Pingvin Share X Critical 2FA Bypass (CVE-2026-44196)
A critical authentication bypass vulnerability, CVE-2026-44196, has been identified in Pingvin Share X, a self-hosted file sharing platform. According to the National Vulnerability Database, this flaw, present in versions 1.14.1 through 1.16.2, allows an attacker who has already obtained a valid username and password to completely circumvent the second-factor authentication (TOTP) requirement.
This means that while an attacker still needs the initial credentials, the crucial second layer of defense is rendered ineffective. The National Vulnerability Database assigns a CVSS score of 9.1 (CRITICAL) to this vulnerability, highlighting its severe impact on confidentiality and integrity. The issue is categorized under CWE-287 (Improper Authentication) and CWE-697 (Incomplete or Incorrect Comparison).
Defenders leveraging Pingvin Share X must prioritize patching. The vulnerability is fixed in version 1.16.3. Organizations running affected versions are at significant risk of unauthorized access to their shared files, even with 2FA ostensibly enabled.
What This Means For You
- If your organization uses Pingvin Share X, immediately verify your installation version. If it's between 1.14.1 and 1.16.2, you are vulnerable to a full 2FA bypass. Upgrade to version 1.16.3 without delay. This isn't a theoretical threat; it’s a critical flaw that renders your 2FA useless if credentials are stolen.
Related ATT&CK Techniques
🛡️ Detection Rules
2 rules · 6 SIEM formats2 detection rules auto-generated for this incident, mapped to MITRE ATT&CK. Sigma YAML is free — export to any SIEM format via the Intel Bot.
Pingvin Share X Authentication Bypass - CVE-2026-44196
title: Pingvin Share X Authentication Bypass - CVE-2026-44196
id: scw-2026-05-12-ai-1
status: experimental
level: critical
description: |
Detects successful authentication bypass attempts targeting Pingvin Share X by observing requests to the TOTP verification endpoint that return a success status code, indicating that the second factor was skipped. This is specific to CVE-2026-44196.
author: SCW Feed Engine (AI-generated)
date: 2026-05-12
references:
- https://shimiscyberworld.com/posts/nvd-CVE-2026-44196/
tags:
- attack.credential_access
- attack.t1110.004
logsource:
category: authentication
detection:
selection:
cs-uri|contains:
- '/auth/totp/verify'
sc-status:
- 200
condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Legitimate administrative activity
Source: Shimi's Cyber World · License & reuse
Indicators of Compromise
| ID | Type | Indicator |
|---|---|---|
| CVE-2026-44196 | Auth Bypass | Pingvin Share X versions 1.14.1 to 1.16.2 |
| CVE-2026-44196 | Auth Bypass | Second-factor authentication (TOTP) bypass |
Written by SCW Vulnerability Desk
Source & Attribution
| Source Platform | NVD |
| Channel | National Vulnerability Database |
| Published | May 12, 2026 at 21:17 UTC |
This content was AI-rewritten and enriched by Shimi's Cyber World based on the original source. All intellectual property rights remain with the original author.
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