Evolution iQ‑Series terminals: Missing Authorization
CVE-2026-38056 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Evolution iQ‑Series terminals from ST Engineering iDirect, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected Evolution iQ‑Series terminals versions: 4.5.2.1 and earlier. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.15% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of Evolution iQ‑Series terminals you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| ST Engineering iDirect | Evolution iQ‑Series terminals | 4.5.2.1 and earlier | Not stated |
| ST Engineering iDirect | 3315-Series terminals | 4.5.2.1 and earlier | Not stated |
| ST Engineering iDirect | 9-Series Terminals | 4.5.2.1 and earlier | 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
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- 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:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (hq.dhs.gov).
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 9.4 | Critical | CNA (hq.dhs.gov) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.8 | High | CNA (hq.dhs.gov) |
Official description
A local privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the iDirect iQ200 VSAT terminal running firmware 23.0.1.0. The iQ200 is a rackmount satellite modem deployed across oil and gas, maritime, defense, and remote infrastructure as the primary, and often sole communications link for offshore rigs, vessels, and remote sites. Important context: the device ships from the factory with a pre-configured low-privilege local user account. This account is intended for field technicians who need shell access for maintenance and diagnostics but should not have full administrative control over the device. This built-in account provides the initial access required to exploit this vulnerability. No additional credentials need to be obtained or brute-forced.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Missing Authorization
The product does not perform an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Divide the product into anonymous, normal, privileged, and administrative areas. Reduce the attack surface by carefully mapping roles with data and functionality. Use role-based access control (RBAC) to enforce the roles at the appropriate boundaries. Note that this approach may not protect against horizontal authorization, i.e., it will not protect a user from attacking others with the same role.
- Ensure that access control checks are performed related to the business logic. These checks may be different than the access control checks that are applied to more generic resources such as files, connections, processes, memory, and database records. For example, a database may restrict access for medical records to a specific database user, but each record might only be intended to be accessible to the patient and the patient's doctor.
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. For example, consider using authorization frameworks such as the JAAS Authorization Framework and the OWASP ESAPI Access Control feature.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in Evolution iQ‑Series terminals
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
Recent Missing Authorization vulnerabilities
- 7.1 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
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