CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-24185NVD status: Awaiting Analysis

NVOS: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2026-24185 is a high-severity authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel vulnerability in NVOS from NVIDIA, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.1 out of 10. It can be exploited from the same local network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected NVOS versions: 0.0 to 25.0.2.4438; 0.0 to 25.0.2.6077. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.3% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Check which version of NVOS you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
NVIDIANVOS0.0 to 25.0.2.4438; 0.0 to 25.0.2.6077Not 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
AdjacentThe attacker must be on the same local network segment.
Attack complexity
HighSuccess depends on conditions outside the attacker's control.
Privileges required
LowA basic user account is enough.
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:A/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (nvidia.com).

Official description

NVIDIA NVOS for network switches contains a vulnerability in the secure shell (SSH) server configuration component while PKA-only mode is enabled, where an administrator could inadvertently enable an alternative authentication path. If best practices for replacing the default password as recommended by NVIDIA are not followed, this alternative authentication path might lead to unauthorized access. A successful exploit of this vulnerability might lead to escalation of privileges.

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

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in NVOS

All NVOS vulnerabilities

Recent Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerabilities

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