CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-79873NVD status: Awaiting Analysis

ArubaOS (AOS): Improper Authentication

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2026-79873 is a critical-severity improper authentication vulnerability in ArubaOS (AOS) from Hewlett Packard Enterprise, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.3 out of 10. It can be exploited from the same local network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected ArubaOS (AOS) versions: 10.8.0.0 through 10.8.1.1; 10.7.0.0 through 10.7.2.6; 10.4.0.0 through 10.4.1.13. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.25% 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 ArubaOS (AOS) you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Hewlett Packard EnterpriseArubaOS (AOS)10.8.0.0 through 10.8.1.1; 10.7.0.0 through 10.7.2.6; 10.4.0.0 through 10.4.1.13Not 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
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
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
NoneAvailability is not affected.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by CNA (hpe.com).

Official description

Authentication bypass vulnerabilities in the PAPI protocol of AOS-10 could allow an unauthenticated adjacent attacker to circumvent existing authentication controls. Successful exploitation could allow an attacker to gain administrative access, modify system configurations, and access or manipulate sensitive data on affected devices.

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

The underlying weakness: Improper Authentication

When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Use an authentication framework or library such as the OWASP ESAPI Authentication feature.

More Improper Authentication vulnerabilities (CWE-287)

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 ArubaOS (AOS)

All ArubaOS (AOS) vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Authentication vulnerabilities

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