CVE-2026-2812 in ArcGIS Server
Summary
by MITRE • 05/20/2026
ArcGIS Server contains an improper authentication vulnerability in an undocumented administrative endpoint. An unauthenticated attacker could exploit this issue by sending a crafted request to the endpoint. Successful exploitation may result in disruption of the web-based browsing interface. This issue affects ArcGIS Server 12.0 and earlier.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical authentication flaw in Esri's ArcGIS Server platform that exposes an undocumented administrative endpoint to unauthenticated access. The flaw exists in the server's authentication mechanism where a hidden administrative interface fails to properly validate user credentials before granting access to sensitive administrative functions. This represents a classic improper authentication vulnerability that falls under CWE-287, which specifically addresses authentication failures in software systems. The vulnerability affects all versions of ArcGIS Server up to and including version 12.0, indicating this issue has persisted across multiple releases and suggests a fundamental design flaw in the authentication architecture rather than a temporary coding error.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to identify and craft specific requests to the undocumented administrative endpoint without prior authentication. This type of attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212, which involves exploitation of software vulnerabilities to gain access to administrative functions. The attack process involves sending carefully constructed HTTP requests that bypass standard authentication checks, potentially leveraging knowledge of the system's internal architecture or through reconnaissance activities that uncover the hidden administrative interface. The lack of proper authentication validation means that any attacker who can reach the endpoint can potentially access administrative capabilities without presenting valid credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential disruption of the web-based browsing interface that users rely upon for accessing geospatial data and services. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they may be able to manipulate the server's operational state, potentially causing service disruption, data corruption, or even complete system compromise. The disruption of the web-based browsing interface directly impacts the availability of critical geospatial services that organizations depend upon for mapping, analysis, and data visualization tasks. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on ArcGIS Server for their GIS infrastructure, as it creates a pathway for attackers to compromise the core platform that manages their spatial data and services.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations that include network segmentation to restrict access to the ArcGIS Server administrative endpoints, ensuring that these interfaces are not exposed to untrusted networks. The implementation of proper access controls and firewall rules to limit access to these endpoints to only authorized administrative users represents a critical first step in mitigating this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should consider disabling or removing undocumented administrative endpoints when possible, as these interfaces often represent attack vectors that are not properly monitored or secured. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar undocumented interfaces throughout the system architecture, as this vulnerability demonstrates how hidden administrative functions can create persistent security risks. The remediation process should include updating to the latest supported version of ArcGIS Server where this vulnerability has been addressed, along with implementing comprehensive monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to administrative interfaces.