FLARE SDK: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key
CVE-2026-24178 is a critical-severity authorization bypass through user-controlled key vulnerability in FLARE SDK from NVIDIA, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected FLARE SDK versions: All versions prior to 2.7.2. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.57% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Update Nvflare to 2.7.2 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on nvidia.custhelp.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA | FLARE SDK | All versions prior to 2.7.2 | Not stated |
| NVIDIA | Nvflare | before 2.7.2 | 2.7.2 |
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.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (nvidia.com).
Official description
NVIDIA NVFlare Dashboard contains a vulnerability in the user management and authentication system where an unauthenticated attacker may cause authorization bypass through user-controlled key. A successful exploit of this vulnerability may lead to privilege escalation, data tampering, information disclosure, code execution, and denial of service.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key
The system's authorization functionality does not prevent one user from gaining access to another user's data or record by modifying the key value identifying the data.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- For each and every data access, ensure that the user has sufficient privilege to access the record that is being requested.
- Make sure that the key that is used in the lookup of a specific user's record is not controllable externally by the user or that any tampering can be detected.
- Use encryption in order to make it more difficult to guess other legitimate values of the key or associate a digital signature with the key so that the server can verify that there has been no tampering.
More Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key vulnerabilities (CWE-639)
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
Third-party and government advisories
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-24178US Government Resource
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-24178Third Party Advisory
Other vulnerabilities in FLARE SDK
- 8.8 High severity
Recent Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key vulnerabilities
- 7.7 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 9.6 Critical severity
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