CVE-2026-14983 in Aware2
Summary
by MITRE • 10/01/2026
Missing authentication in the web interface in Teledyne FLIR Aware2 versions through 6.9.0.2 allows remote unauthenticated attackers to achieve denial of service against Teledyne FLIR PackBot robots running this software via misuse of the reboot endpoint.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2026
The vulnerability identified in Teledyne FLIR Aware2, specifically within versions up to and including 6.9.0.2, represents a critical failure in access control mechanisms for the device's web-based management interface. This flaw allows remote unauthenticated attackers to interact with sensitive administrative endpoints without providing valid credentials or session tokens. The core technical deficiency lies in the improper implementation of authentication checks on specific API routes, particularly those responsible for system maintenance and lifecycle operations such as rebooting the host device. By exploiting this missing authentication logic, an external actor can send crafted HTTP requests directly to these unprotected endpoints from a network position that has connectivity to the vulnerable service port.
From a technical perspective, the exploitation vector targets the reboot endpoint which is designed to facilitate legitimate system restarts during maintenance windows or after software updates. However, due to the absence of strict access control policies governing this specific function, any entity capable of reaching the web server can trigger a system reset. This misconfiguration effectively bypasses standard security boundaries that should restrict such high-privilege actions to authorized administrators only. The attacker does not need to compromise user accounts or exploit complex logic flaws; they merely need to send a request to the exposed endpoint, which the application processes and executes immediately due to the lack of verification steps prior to action execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, primarily manifesting as a denial of service condition against Teledyne FLIR PackBot robots running the affected software versions. Since these robotic platforms are often deployed in critical infrastructure protection, surveillance, or hazardous environment operations, an unauthorized reboot can lead to significant downtime and loss of situational awareness. For autonomous or remotely operated systems, an unexpected restart may interrupt ongoing missions, cause data loss from volatile memory if not properly saved, and potentially leave the device in a degraded state requiring manual intervention to restore full functionality. This disruption undermines the reliability and availability guarantees essential for robotic operations in security-sensitive contexts.
In terms of industry standard classifications, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-306: Missing Authentication for Critical Function, as it involves performing an action without proper authentication checks. Furthermore, from a tactical standpoint within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this behavior corresponds to T1529 System Shutdown or Reboot, where adversaries use system commands to disrupt availability. The exploitation also reflects aspects of T1499: Endpoint Denial of Service, as the primary outcome is the disruption of service through resource exhaustion via forced reboots. These mappings highlight the severity of the flaw in terms of both its classification and its potential for causing operational harm.
To mitigate this risk, immediate remediation involves upgrading to a patched version of Teledyne FLIR Aware2 that enforces proper authentication on all administrative endpoints. Until an upgrade is feasible, network-level controls should be implemented to restrict access to the web management interface exclusively from trusted IP addresses or isolated management networks using firewalls or VLAN segmentation. Additionally, enabling HTTPS with strict certificate validation and ensuring that only authenticated sessions can reach sensitive API routes will help prevent unauthorized interactions. Regular security audits of web application configurations are recommended to ensure that no other endpoints suffer from similar access control deficiencies, thereby maintaining the integrity and availability of robotic systems in production environments.