Refine your search
1 vulnerability found for Acropolis Operating System (AOS) by Nutanix
CVE-2026-84731 (GCVE-0-2026-84731)
Vulnerability from cvelistv5
Published
2026-10-15 17:10
Modified
2026-10-15 19:14
Severity ?
9.3 (Critical) - CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H/E:P/S:N/AU:Y/R:U/V:C/RE:H/U:Red
9.8 (Critical) - CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8 (Critical) - CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
VLAI Severity ?
EPSS score ?
CWE
Summary
An unauthenticated remote attacker can bypass authentication and gain full access to administrative API endpoints in Nutanix Prism Element by including a crafted internal management HTTP header. The vulnerability is caused by a misconfiguration in the application's authentication filters.
Consequently, the server responds with a Set-Cookie header containing a valid JSESSIONID. This session cookie decodes to a JSON Web Token (JWT) granting maximum cluster administrative privileges. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to execute root-level commands on all Controller VMs (CVMs) in the cluster, leading to complete cluster destruction and unauthorized access to VM memory and virtual disks.
References
| URL | Tags | |
|---|---|---|
Impacted products
| Vendor | Product | Version | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nutanix | Acropolis Operating System (AOS) |
Version: 0 < 7.3.1.18 Version: 7.5 < 7.5.2 Version: 7.6 < 7.6.0.8 |
{
"containers": {
"adp": [
{
"metrics": [
{
"other": {
"content": {
"id": "CVE-2026-84731",
"options": [
{
"Exploitation": "none"
},
{
"Automatable": "yes"
},
{
"Technical Impact": "total"
}
],
"role": "CISA Coordinator",
"timestamp": "2026-10-15T17:29:00.505460Z",
"version": "2.0.3"
},
"type": "ssvc"
}
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2026-10-15T19:14:57.185Z",
"orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
"shortName": "CISA-ADP"
},
"title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
}
],
"cna": {
"affected": [
{
"defaultStatus": "unaffected",
"modules": [
"Prism Gateway"
],
"product": "Acropolis Operating System (AOS)",
"vendor": "Nutanix",
"versions": [
{
"changes": [
{
"at": "7.3.1.18",
"status": "unaffected"
}
],
"lessThan": "7.3.1.18",
"status": "affected",
"version": "0",
"versionType": "custom"
},
{
"changes": [
{
"at": "7.5.2",
"status": "unaffected"
}
],
"lessThan": "7.5.2",
"status": "affected",
"version": "7.5",
"versionType": "custom"
},
{
"changes": [
{
"at": "7.6.0.8",
"status": "unaffected"
}
],
"lessThan": "7.6.0.8",
"status": "affected",
"version": "7.6",
"versionType": "custom"
}
]
}
],
"configurations": [
{
"lang": "en",
"supportingMedia": [
{
"base64": false,
"type": "text/html",
"value": "The vulnerability affects Nutanix AOS versions running Prism Gateway, where the Prism Element management port (9440) is exposed directly to the public internet (or an open network) without a firewall to block malicious traffic."
}
],
"value": "The vulnerability affects Nutanix AOS versions running Prism Gateway, where the Prism Element management port (9440) is exposed directly to the public internet (or an open network) without a firewall to block malicious traffic."
}
],
"cpeApplicability": [
{
"nodes": [
{
"cpeMatch": [
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:nutanix:aos_:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"versionEndExcluding": "7.3.1.18",
"versionStartIncluding": "0",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:nutanix:aos_:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"versionEndExcluding": "7.5.2",
"versionStartIncluding": "7.5",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:nutanix:aos_:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"versionEndExcluding": "7.6.0.8",
"versionStartIncluding": "7.6",
"vulnerable": true
}
],
"negate": false,
"operator": "OR"
}
],
"operator": "OR"
}
],
"credits": [
{
"lang": "en",
"type": "reporter",
"value": "Brandon McGrath (mez-0)"
}
],
"datePublic": "2026-10-15T17:11:00.000Z",
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"supportingMedia": [
{
"base64": false,
"type": "text/html",
"value": "\u003cp\u003eAn unauthenticated remote attacker can bypass authentication and gain full access to administrative API endpoints in Nutanix Prism Element by including a crafted internal management HTTP header. The vulnerability is caused by a misconfiguration in the application\u0027s authentication filters.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eConsequently, the server responds with a \u003ccode\u003eSet-Cookie\u003c/code\u003e header containing a valid \u003ccode\u003eJSESSIONID\u003c/code\u003e. This session cookie decodes to a JSON Web Token (JWT) granting maximum cluster administrative privileges. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to execute root-level commands on all Controller VMs (CVMs) in the cluster, leading to complete cluster destruction and unauthorized access to VM memory and virtual disks.\u003c/p\u003e"
}
],
"value": "An unauthenticated remote attacker can bypass authentication and gain full access to administrative API endpoints in Nutanix Prism Element by including a crafted internal management HTTP header. The vulnerability is caused by a misconfiguration in the application\u0027s authentication filters.\n\n\n\nConsequently, the server responds with a Set-Cookie header containing a valid JSESSIONID. This session cookie decodes to a JSON Web Token (JWT) granting maximum cluster administrative privileges. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to execute root-level commands on all Controller VMs (CVMs) in the cluster, leading to complete cluster destruction and unauthorized access to VM memory and virtual disks."
}
],
"exploits": [
{
"lang": "en",
"supportingMedia": [
{
"base64": false,
"type": "text/html",
"value": "\u003cp\u003eProof-of-concept exploitation was validated during responsible disclosure. No public exploit code or automated attack toolkits are currently known to be publicly distributed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"
}
],
"value": "Proof-of-concept exploitation was validated during responsible disclosure. No public exploit code or automated attack toolkits are currently known to be publicly distributed."
}
],
"impacts": [
{
"capecId": "CAPEC-115",
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "CAPEC-115 Authentication Bypass"
}
]
}
],
"metrics": [
{
"cvssV4_0": {
"Automatable": "YES",
"Recovery": "USER",
"Safety": "NEGLIGIBLE",
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackRequirements": "NONE",
"attackVector": "NETWORK",
"baseScore": 9.3,
"baseSeverity": "CRITICAL",
"exploitMaturity": "PROOF_OF_CONCEPT",
"privilegesRequired": "NONE",
"providerUrgency": "RED",
"subAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"subConfidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
"subIntegrityImpact": "HIGH",
"userInteraction": "NONE",
"valueDensity": "CONCENTRATED",
"vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H/E:P/S:N/AU:Y/R:U/V:C/RE:H/U:Red",
"version": "4.0",
"vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"vulnConfidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
"vulnIntegrityImpact": "HIGH",
"vulnerabilityResponseEffort": "HIGH"
},
"format": "CVSS",
"scenarios": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "GENERAL"
}
]
},
{
"cvssV3_1": {
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackVector": "NETWORK",
"availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"baseScore": 9.8,
"baseSeverity": "CRITICAL",
"confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
"integrityImpact": "HIGH",
"privilegesRequired": "NONE",
"scope": "UNCHANGED",
"userInteraction": "NONE",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"version": "3.1"
},
"format": "CVSS",
"scenarios": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "GENERAL"
}
]
},
{
"cvssV2_0": {
"accessComplexity": "LOW",
"accessVector": "NETWORK",
"authentication": "NONE",
"availabilityImpact": "COMPLETE",
"baseScore": 10,
"confidentialityImpact": "COMPLETE",
"integrityImpact": "COMPLETE",
"vectorString": "AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C",
"version": "2.0"
},
"format": "CVSS",
"scenarios": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "GENERAL"
}
]
},
{
"other": {
"content": {
"options": [
{
"Exploitation": "poc"
},
{
"Automatable": "yes"
},
{
"Technical Impact": "total"
}
],
"role": "CNA",
"version": "2.0.3"
},
"type": "ssvc"
},
"scenarios": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "GENERAL"
}
]
}
],
"problemTypes": [
{
"descriptions": [
{
"cweId": "CWE-306",
"description": "CWE-306 Missing authentication for critical function",
"lang": "en",
"type": "CWE"
}
]
},
{
"descriptions": [
{
"cweId": "CWE-290",
"description": "CWE-290 Authentication bypass by spoofing",
"lang": "en",
"type": "CWE"
}
]
},
{
"descriptions": [
{
"cweId": "CWE-302",
"description": "CWE-302 Authentication bypass by Assumed-Immutable data",
"lang": "en",
"type": "CWE"
}
]
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2026-10-15T17:10:29.432Z",
"orgId": "2ffdacf6-8681-47df-b023-4f11abd61c1d",
"shortName": "Nutanix"
},
"references": [
{
"tags": [
"vendor-advisory"
],
"url": "https://download.nutanix.com/alerts/Security_Advisory_0058.pdf"
},
{
"tags": [
"release-notes"
],
"url": "https://portal.nutanix.com/page/documents/list?type=software\u0026filterKey=software\u0026filterVal=AOS"
},
{
"tags": [
"x_support"
],
"url": "https://www.nutanix.com/support"
}
],
"solutions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"supportingMedia": [
{
"base64": false,
"type": "text/html",
"value": "\u003cp\u003eUpgrade affected Nutanix AOS deployments to version\u0026nbsp;\u003cb\u003e7.3.1.18, 7.5.2, 7.6.0.8\u003c/b\u003e\u0026nbsp;or later fixed releases.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"
}
],
"value": "Upgrade affected Nutanix AOS deployments to version\u00a07.3.1.18, 7.5.2, 7.6.0.8\u00a0or later fixed releases."
}
],
"source": {
"discovery": "EXTERNAL"
},
"tags": [
"x_api-security",
"x_unauthenticated-access",
"x_prism-gateway",
"x_aos",
"x_pre-auth",
"x_rce"
],
"timeline": [
{
"lang": "en",
"time": "2026-08-26T17:47:00.000Z",
"value": "Vulnerability reported to Nutanix via HackerOne"
},
{
"lang": "en",
"time": "2026-08-27T20:46:00.000Z",
"value": "Proof of concept validated."
},
{
"lang": "en",
"time": "2026-09-17T13:08:00.000Z",
"value": "Remediation verified across affected release branches."
},
{
"lang": "en",
"time": "2026-09-22T17:27:00.000Z",
"value": "Fix integrated into AOS maintenance releases."
},
{
"lang": "en",
"time": "2026-10-04T18:30:00.000Z",
"value": "AOS version 7.6.0.8 released."
},
{
"lang": "en",
"time": "2026-10-05T18:30:00.000Z",
"value": "AOS version 7.3.1.18 released."
},
{
"lang": "en",
"time": "2026-10-12T18:30:00.000Z",
"value": "AOS version 7.5.2 released."
},
{
"lang": "en",
"time": "2026-10-15T17:11:00.000Z",
"value": "Public security advisory and CVE published."
}
],
"title": "Pre-Authentication Admin Bypass and Remote Code Execution in Nutanix Prism Gateway inside AOS",
"workarounds": [
{
"lang": "en",
"supportingMedia": [
{
"base64": false,
"type": "text/html",
"value": "\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOrganizations can mitigate this issue prior to patching by enforcing the following controls\u003c/span\u003e:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNetwork Segmentation:\u003c/strong\u003e Restrict access to the Prism Element management port (9440) strictly to dedicated management VLANs, jump boxes or authorized IP ranges.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIngress Traffic Filtering:\u003c/strong\u003e Configure upstream Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) or ingress reverse proxies to strip specific internal management headers from incoming API requests before they reach\u003cspan\u003e\u0026nbsp;the cluster.\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003ci\u003eNote on WAF Configuration workaround: Nutanix is willing to securely provide the exact header string via Support to verified existing customers who are temporarily unable to apply the patch.\u003c/i\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"
}
],
"value": "Organizations can mitigate this issue prior to patching by enforcing the following controls:\n\n * Network Segmentation: Restrict access to the Prism Element management port (9440) strictly to dedicated management VLANs, jump boxes or authorized IP ranges.\n\n * Ingress Traffic Filtering: Configure upstream Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) or ingress reverse proxies to strip specific internal management headers from incoming API requests before they reach\u00a0the cluster.\n\n\n\nNote on WAF Configuration workaround: Nutanix is willing to securely provide the exact header string via Support to verified existing customers who are temporarily unable to apply the patch."
}
],
"x_generator": {
"engine": "Vulnogram 1.0.5"
}
}
},
"cveMetadata": {
"assignerOrgId": "2ffdacf6-8681-47df-b023-4f11abd61c1d",
"assignerShortName": "Nutanix",
"cveId": "CVE-2026-84731",
"datePublished": "2026-10-15T17:10:29.432Z",
"dateReserved": "2026-09-02T06:41:54.722Z",
"dateUpdated": "2026-10-15T19:14:57.185Z",
"state": "PUBLISHED"
},
"dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
"dataVersion": "5.2"
}