CVE-2026-44880 in AOS-CX
Summary
by MITRE • 07/21/2026
A buffer overflow vulnerability was found in the command line interface of AOS-CX. Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow an remote low-privileged user to execute arbitrary code as a privileged user on the underlying operating system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2026
This buffer overflow vulnerability exists within the command line interface of AOS-CX network operating system, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote code execution with elevated privileges. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and bounds checking in the CLI processing component, allowing maliciously crafted input to overwrite adjacent memory locations. According to CWE-121, this classification indicates a classic stack-based buffer overflow condition where attacker-controlled data exceeds the allocated buffer size, potentially corrupting program execution flow. The flaw specifically affects the command line interface functionality that processes user commands and arguments, creating an attack vector that can be exploited without authentication requirements.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows a low-privileged remote attacker to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary code with system-level permissions. This represents a privilege escalation vulnerability that bypasses normal access controls and authentication mechanisms. The attacker can leverage this flaw to gain full administrative control over the network device, potentially leading to complete network compromise, data exfiltration, or disruption of critical network services. The vulnerability affects devices running AOS-CX operating system, which is commonly deployed in enterprise and data center environments where network infrastructure security is paramount. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1068 (Local Privilege Escalation) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers may use social engineering to gain initial access before exploiting this specific flaw.
The technical exploitation process involves crafting malicious input strings that exceed buffer capacity in the CLI handler, causing memory corruption that can be manipulated to redirect program execution flow. Attackers typically construct payloads that overwrite return addresses or function pointers within the call stack, enabling them to inject and execute malicious code with elevated privileges. This vulnerability demonstrates poor software development practices related to memory management and input sanitization, as modern secure coding standards require comprehensive bounds checking and proper buffer handling mechanisms. Organizations running affected AOS-CX devices face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential network-wide compromise, particularly in environments where network devices are exposed to untrusted networks or where multiple administrative accounts exist.
Mitigation strategies include applying vendor-provided security patches and firmware updates immediately upon availability, implementing network segmentation to limit remote access to management interfaces, and configuring strict access controls including multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts. Network administrators should also implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous CLI usage patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability management programs, as well as adherence to secure coding practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Secure Coding Practices and NIST Special Publication 800-63B for authentication and access control. Organizations should also consider implementing network access control lists to restrict direct access to device management interfaces from external networks and establish robust incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts.