CVE-2026-47870 in Avi Load Balancer
Summary
by MITRE • 07/18/2026
VMware Avi Load Balancer contains a privilege escalation vulnerability. A malicious authenticated user with network access may be able to execute remote code.
Affected versions: 32.1.1 (fixed in 32.1.2) 31.1.1 through 31.2.2 (fixed in 31.2.2-2p3) 30.1.1 through 30.2.6 (fixed in 30.2.7) 22.1.1 through 22.1.7 (fixed in 30.2.7)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2026
The VMware Avi Load Balancer privilege escalation vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that allows authenticated attackers with network access to escalate their privileges and potentially execute remote code on affected systems. This vulnerability affects multiple version ranges spanning from 32.1.1 through 22.1.7, with specific fixes released for each affected series. The issue stems from inadequate privilege controls within the load balancer's authentication and authorization mechanisms, creating a pathway for malicious actors to elevate their access levels beyond what should be permitted.
Technical analysis reveals that this vulnerability operates through improper access control validation within the Avi Load Balancer's user management subsystem. The flaw likely resides in how the system validates user credentials and session tokens during authentication processes, potentially allowing an authenticated user to manipulate session data or exploit race conditions in privilege assignment. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which specifically addresses improper access control issues where systems fail to properly enforce authorization checks. The vulnerability's classification as a privilege escalation issue indicates that the system does not adequately verify whether authenticated users possess sufficient privileges for specific operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it creates potential for full system compromise through remote code execution capabilities. Attackers who successfully exploit this flaw could gain administrative access to load balancer configurations, potentially disrupting network services, accessing sensitive data flows, or using the compromised system as a pivot point for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The distributed nature of load balancers makes them attractive targets for attackers seeking persistent access to critical network components, with this vulnerability providing a pathway to establish long-term control over network traffic management functions.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of all affected versions according to VMware's security advisories and release notes. Organizations must implement comprehensive network segmentation to limit access to Avi Load Balancer systems, particularly restricting direct network access to administrative interfaces. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns or privilege escalation attempts within load balancer logs. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that only necessary personnel have administrative access to these critical infrastructure components. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential exploitation vectors before they can be leveraged by malicious actors.
This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for critical infrastructure components, as highlighted in the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques where attackers often exploit outdated software versions to gain elevated system access. Organizations should implement robust patch management processes specifically targeting network infrastructure devices, including load balancers, which serve as foundational elements of enterprise security architectures and require continuous monitoring for potential threats. The remediation timeline across multiple version series indicates that this vulnerability was likely present in the codebase for an extended period, emphasizing the need for proactive security measures beyond reactive patching approaches.