Security Management Server: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel
CVE-2026-18574 is a critical-severity authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel vulnerability in Security Management Server from Check Point, with a CVSS 4.0 base score of 9.3 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected Security Management Server versions: R82.10 with Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator Take 39 or below; R82 with Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator Take 121 or below; R81.20 with Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator Take 160 or below, and others listed below. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.89% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 60% of scored CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Check which version of Security Management Server you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check Point | Security Management Server | R82.10 with Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator Take 39 or below; R82 with Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator Take 121 or below; R81.20 with Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator Take 160 or below; R81.10; R81; R80.40; R80.30; R80.20; and 2 more ranges | Not stated |
| Check Point | Multi-Domain Security Management Server | R82.10 with Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator Take 39 or below; R82 with Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator Take 121 or below; R81.20 with Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator Take 160 or below; R81.10; R81; R80.40; R80.30; R80.20; and 2 more ranges | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Attack requirements
- NoneThe attack does not depend on a particular deployment or configuration.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Confidentiality (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of confidentiality on the vulnerable system.
- Integrity (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of integrity on the vulnerable system.
- Availability (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of availability on the vulnerable system.
- Confidentiality (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of confidentiality on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
- Integrity (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of integrity on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
- Availability (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of availability on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X. Scored by CNA (checkpoint.com).
Official description
An authentication bypass vulnerability in Check Point Security Management Server and Multi-Domain Security Management Server (MDS) could allow an unauthenticated remote attacker with network access to Management services to execute arbitrary commands on the Security Management Server. Successful exploitation could result in full compromise of the Security Management system. Check Point discovered this issue internally and has no indication of active exploitation.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel
The product requires authentication, but the product has an alternate path or channel that does not require authentication.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Funnel all access through a single choke point to simplify how users can access a resource. For every access, perform a check to determine if the user has permissions to access the resource.
More Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerabilities (CWE-288)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Recent Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerabilities
- 8.6 High severity
- 10.0 Critical severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 9.2 Critical severity
- 8.0 High severity
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