CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-73778NVD status: Analyzed

AOS-CX: Weak Password Requirements

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2026-73778 is a critical-severity weak password requirements vulnerability in AOS-CX from Hewlett Packard Enterprise, 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 AOS-CX versions: 10.18.0000 through 10.18.0001; 10.17.0000 through 10.17.1021; 10.16.0000 through 10.16.1051, 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 0.51% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Check which version of AOS-CX you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. Read the advisory on support.hpe.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  3. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Hewlett Packard EnterpriseAOS-CX10.18.0000 through 10.18.0001; 10.17.0000 through 10.17.1021; 10.16.0000 through 10.16.1051; 10.13.0000 through 10.13.1180; 10.10.0000 through 10.10.1180Not stated
Hewlett Packard EnterpriseArubaos-cx10.10.1180 and earlier; 10.13.0000 through 10.13.1180; 10.16.0000 through 10.16.1051; 10.17.0000 through 10.17.1021; 10.18.0001Not 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.
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 NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.18.1HighCNA (hpe.com)
CVSS 3.19.8CriticalNVD

Official description

A vulnerability exists in the Credential Manager component that may allow for unauthorized administrative access. An unauthenticated remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability on a device in its factory-default or post-ZTP state before any administrator has configured credentials by providing a predictable factory-default password. Successful exploitation could result in full administrative control of the affected device during the initial setup process.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Weak Password Requirements

The product does not require that users should have strong passwords.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Consider a second authentication factor beyond the password, which prevents the password from being a single point of failure. See CWE-308 for further information.
  • Consider implementing a password complexity meter to inform users when a chosen password meets the required attributes.

More Weak Password Requirements vulnerabilities (CWE-521)

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 AOS-CX

All AOS-CX vulnerabilities

Recent Weak Password Requirements vulnerabilities

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