CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-79855NVD status: Awaiting Analysis

ArubaOS (AOS): Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2026-79855 is a critical-severity authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel vulnerability in ArubaOS (AOS) 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 ArubaOS (AOS) versions: 8.13.0.0 through 8.13.3.0; 8.10.0.0 through 8.10.0.23. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.75% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 56% of scored CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Check which version of ArubaOS (AOS) you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. 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 EnterpriseArubaOS (AOS)8.13.0.0 through 8.13.3.0; 8.10.0.0 through 8.10.0.23Not 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 CNA (hpe.com).

Official description

An authentication bypass vulnerability in the SSH daemon of AOS-8 allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to circumvent existing authentication controls. Successful exploitation allows an attacker to gain administrative privileges leading to complete compromise of the AOS-8 host.

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: yes, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in ArubaOS (AOS)

All ArubaOS (AOS) vulnerabilities

Recent Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerabilities

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