---
id: "CVE-2026-116606"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-116606"]
title: "Barracuda Email Security Gateway: authentication bypass lets attackers change global configuration"
severity: "critical"
cvss: 9.3
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "Email Security Gateway", "fixed": ["9.4.0.030"], "affected": "< 9.4.0.030", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: []
tags: ["appliance", "barracuda", "email-security-gateway", "infrastructure", "self-hosted"]
not_affected_if: ["fixed-version"]
published_at: "2026-11-02T13:17:37+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-02T13:23:16+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-02T13:25:51+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-116606", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-02T13:23:16+00:00"}, {"source": "analyst", "url": null, "first_seen_at": "2026-11-02T13:25:51+00:00"}]
---

# Barracuda Email Security Gateway: authentication bypass lets attackers change global configuration

Barracuda Email Security Gateway versions earlier than 9.4.0.030 let an unauthenticated remote attacker call the configuration-import function. The attacker can restore a crafted backup archive and change the appliance's global configuration.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Email Security Gateway affected < 9.4.0.030 fixed 9.4.0.030

## How to check

Check the firmware version on the ESG admin interface (ADVANCED > Firmware Update / BASIC > Status); versions earlier than 9.4.0.030 are in NVD's affected range. Which interfaces expose the configuration-import function is not stated in any source; restrict the admin/management interface to trusted networks in the meantime.

## Fix

Per NVD, versions earlier than 9.4.0.030 are affected; update ESG firmware to 9.4.0.030 or later (Barracuda's release notes list 9.4.0.030, but do not tie it to this CVE).

## Timeline

- 2026-11-02T13:23:16+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-116606
- 2026-11-02T13:25:51+00:00 analyst — Only NVD states this (fixed: 9.4.0.030). Barracuda's ESG release notes list 9.4.0.030 (Oct 30) but its entries (cluster quarantine, scp fix) do not mention this CVE or a config-import fix. No Barracuda advisory found; interfaces exposing config import unknown. Fix version is NVD-derived, not vendor-confirmed; nothing verified.

## Documents

- [advisory] NVD CVE-2026-116606 https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-116606
- [mentions] Barracuda ESG Release Notes (9.4.0.030 listed; no mention of this CVE) https://documentation.campus.barracuda.com/wiki/spaces/BSFv51/pages/6684682/Release+Notes

## From the sources

An authentication bypass in Barracuda Email Security Gateway versions earlier than 9.4.0.030 allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to invoke a configuration-import function and restore a crafted, compatible backup archive, resulting in unauthorized modification of the appliance’s global configuration.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_