{ "dataType": "CVE_RECORD", "dataVersion": "5.2", "cveMetadata": { "cveId": "CVE-2026-84731", "assignerOrgId": "2ffdacf6-8681-47df-b023-4f11abd61c1d", "state": "PUBLISHED", "assignerShortName": "Nutanix", "dateReserved": "2026-09-02T06:41:54.722Z", "datePublished": "2026-10-15T17:10:29.432Z", "dateUpdated": "2026-10-15T19:14:57.185Z" }, "containers": { "cna": { "providerMetadata": { "orgId": "2ffdacf6-8681-47df-b023-4f11abd61c1d", "shortName": "Nutanix", "dateUpdated": "2026-10-15T17:10:29.432Z" }, "title": "Pre-Authentication Admin Bypass and Remote Code Execution in Nutanix Prism Gateway inside AOS", "datePublic": "2026-10-15T17:11:00.000Z", "problemTypes": [ { "descriptions": [ { "lang": "en", "cweId": "CWE-306", "description": "CWE-306 Missing authentication for critical function", "type": "CWE" } ] }, { "descriptions": [ { "lang": "en", "cweId": "CWE-290", "description": "CWE-290 Authentication bypass by spoofing", "type": "CWE" } ] }, { "descriptions": [ { "lang": "en", "cweId": "CWE-302", "description": "CWE-302 Authentication bypass by Assumed-Immutable data", "type": "CWE" } ] } ], "impacts": [ { "capecId": "CAPEC-115", "descriptions": [ { "lang": "en", "value": "CAPEC-115 Authentication Bypass" } ] } ], "affected": [ { "vendor": "Nutanix", "product": "Acropolis Operating System (AOS)", "modules": [ "Prism Gateway" ], "versions": [ { "status": "affected", "version": "0", "lessThan": "7.3.1.18", "changes": [ { "at": "7.3.1.18", "status": "unaffected" } ], "versionType": "custom" }, { "status": "affected", "version": "7.5", "lessThan": "7.5.2", "changes": [ { "at": "7.5.2", "status": "unaffected" } ], "versionType": "custom" }, { "status": "affected", "version": "7.6", "lessThan": "7.6.0.8", "changes": [ { "at": "7.6.0.8", "status": "unaffected" } ], "versionType": "custom" } ], "defaultStatus": "unaffected" } ], "cpeApplicability": [ { "operator": "OR", "nodes": [ { "operator": "OR", "negate": false, "cpeMatch": [ { "vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:nutanix:aos_:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "versionStartIncluding": "0", "versionEndExcluding": "7.3.1.18" }, { "vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:nutanix:aos_:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "versionStartIncluding": "7.5", "versionEndExcluding": "7.5.2" }, { "vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:nutanix:aos_:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "versionStartIncluding": "7.6", "versionEndExcluding": "7.6.0.8" } ] } ] } ], "descriptions": [ { "lang": "en", "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's 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.", "supportingMedia": [ { "type": "text/html", "base64": false, "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'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.

" } ] } ], "tags": [ "x_api-security", "x_unauthenticated-access", "x_prism-gateway", "x_aos", "x_pre-auth", "x_rce" ], "references": [ { "url": "https://download.nutanix.com/alerts/Security_Advisory_0058.pdf", "tags": [ "vendor-advisory" ] }, { "url": "https://portal.nutanix.com/page/documents/list?type=software&filterKey=software&filterVal=AOS", "tags": [ "release-notes" ] }, { "url": "https://www.nutanix.com/support", "tags": [ "x_support" ] } ], "metrics": [ { "format": "CVSS", "scenarios": [ { "lang": "en", "value": "GENERAL" } ], "cvssV4_0": { "attackVector": "NETWORK", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "attackRequirements": "NONE", "privilegesRequired": "NONE", "userInteraction": "NONE", "vulnConfidentialityImpact": "HIGH", "subConfidentialityImpact": "HIGH", "vulnIntegrityImpact": "HIGH", "subIntegrityImpact": "HIGH", "vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH", "subAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH", "exploitMaturity": "PROOF_OF_CONCEPT", "Safety": "NEGLIGIBLE", "Automatable": "YES", "Recovery": "USER", "valueDensity": "CONCENTRATED", "vulnerabilityResponseEffort": "HIGH", "providerUrgency": "RED", "version": "4.0", "baseSeverity": "CRITICAL", "baseScore": 9.3, "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" } }, { "format": "CVSS", "scenarios": [ { "lang": "en", "value": "GENERAL" } ], "cvssV3_1": { "version": "3.1", "attackVector": "NETWORK", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "privilegesRequired": "NONE", "userInteraction": "NONE", "scope": "UNCHANGED", "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH", "integrityImpact": "HIGH", "availabilityImpact": "HIGH", "baseSeverity": "CRITICAL", "baseScore": 9.8, "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H" } }, { "format": "CVSS", "scenarios": [ { "lang": "en", "value": "GENERAL" } ], "cvssV2_0": { "version": "2.0", "accessVector": "NETWORK", "accessComplexity": "LOW", "authentication": "NONE", "confidentialityImpact": "COMPLETE", "integrityImpact": "COMPLETE", "availabilityImpact": "COMPLETE", "baseScore": 10, "vectorString": "AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C" } }, { "other": { "type": "ssvc", "content": { "options": [ { "Exploitation": "poc" }, { "Automatable": "yes" }, { "Technical Impact": "total" } ], "role": "CNA", "version": "2.0.3" } }, "scenarios": [ { "lang": "en", "value": "GENERAL" } ] } ], "configurations": [ { "lang": "en", "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.", "supportingMedia": [ { "type": "text/html", "base64": false, "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." } ] } ], "workarounds": [ { "lang": "en", "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 the 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.", "supportingMedia": [ { "type": "text/html", "base64": false, "value": "

Organizations can mitigate this issue prior to patching by enforcing the following controls:

Note 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.
" } ] } ], "solutions": [ { "lang": "en", "value": "Upgrade affected Nutanix AOS deployments to version 7.3.1.18, 7.5.2, 7.6.0.8 or later fixed releases.", "supportingMedia": [ { "type": "text/html", "base64": false, "value": "

Upgrade affected Nutanix AOS deployments to version 7.3.1.18, 7.5.2, 7.6.0.8 or later fixed releases.

" } ] } ], "exploits": [ { "lang": "en", "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.", "supportingMedia": [ { "type": "text/html", "base64": false, "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.

" } ] } ], "timeline": [ { "time": "2026-08-26T17:47:00.000Z", "lang": "en", "value": "Vulnerability reported to Nutanix via HackerOne" }, { "time": "2026-08-27T20:46:00.000Z", "lang": "en", "value": "Proof of concept validated." }, { "time": "2026-09-17T13:08:00.000Z", "lang": "en", "value": "Remediation verified across affected release branches." }, { "time": "2026-09-22T17:27:00.000Z", "lang": "en", "value": "Fix integrated into AOS maintenance releases." }, { "time": "2026-10-04T18:30:00.000Z", "lang": "en", "value": "AOS version 7.6.0.8 released." }, { "time": "2026-10-05T18:30:00.000Z", "lang": "en", "value": "AOS version 7.3.1.18 released." }, { "time": "2026-10-12T18:30:00.000Z", "lang": "en", "value": "AOS version 7.5.2 released." }, { "time": "2026-10-15T17:11:00.000Z", "lang": "en", "value": "Public security advisory and CVE published." } ], "credits": [ { "lang": "en", "value": "Brandon McGrath (mez-0)", "type": "reporter" } ], "source": { "discovery": "EXTERNAL" }, "x_generator": { "engine": "Vulnogram 1.0.5" } }, "adp": [ { "metrics": [ { "other": { "type": "ssvc", "content": { "id": "CVE-2026-84731", "role": "CISA Coordinator", "options": [ { "Exploitation": "none" }, { "Automatable": "yes" }, { "Technical Impact": "total" } ], "version": "2.0.3", "timestamp": "2026-10-15T17:29:00.505460Z" } } } ], "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment", "providerMetadata": { "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "shortName": "CISA-ADP", "dateUpdated": "2026-10-15T19:14:57.185Z" } } ] } }