CVE-2026-73794 in NonStop MODULAR NSJ
Summary
by MITRE • 10/14/2026
HPE NonStop MODULAR NSJ contains a predictable seed vulnerability in Random Number Generation (PRNG)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2026
The HighPoint Enterprise NonStop Modular NSJ system exhibits a critical weakness in its implementation of the Pseudo-Random Number Generator, specifically classified under CWE-330 as Use of Insufficiently Random Values. This vulnerability stems from the use of a predictable seed value during the initialization phase of the random number generation algorithm. In cryptographic and security-sensitive applications, the entropy source used to initialize PRNGs must possess high unpredictability to ensure that generated sequences cannot be reproduced by an adversary who may have partial knowledge of the system state or previous outputs. When the seed is derived from low-entropy sources such as static constants, predictable timestamps without sufficient jitter, or hardware identifiers that remain constant across instances, the resulting sequence of numbers becomes deterministic rather than random. This fundamental flaw undermines the integrity of any security mechanism relying on these values for protection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, primarily affecting authentication protocols, session management, cryptographic key generation, and nonces used in challenge-response mechanisms. If an attacker can predict or brute-force the seed value due to its limited entropy space, they can reconstruct the sequence of pseudo-random numbers generated by the system. This capability allows for the bypassing of access controls where tokens are derived from random values, enabling unauthorized session hijacking or privilege escalation. Furthermore, in contexts involving cryptographic operations such as key exchange protocols like Diffie-Hellman, a predictable ephemeral private key leads directly to the compromise of shared secrets and subsequent decryption of encrypted communications. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1583.002 Acquire Infrastructure: Virtual Private Server, where an attacker might exploit weak randomness to establish persistent access or manipulate virtualized environments if such infrastructure relies on NSJ for internal security services.
Mitigation strategies must focus on replacing the current PRNG implementation with a Cryptographically Secure Pseudo-Random Number Generator CSPRNG that adheres to established standards such as NIST SP 800-90A or FIPS 140-2/3 requirements for random number generation. The system should be configured to harvest entropy from multiple high-quality sources, including hardware-based noise generators and kernel-provided entropy pools like /dev/random on compatible operating systems. It is imperative that the seed initialization process incorporates sufficient jitter and combines inputs from diverse physical events such as interrupt timings or disk I/O latencies to maximize unpredictability. Additionally, regular security audits should be conducted to verify that no static seeds are hardcoded in configuration files or source code segments related to authentication modules. Patching involves updating the NSJ firmware or software components to versions where this flaw has been remediated by engineering teams who have implemented robust entropy collection mechanisms compliant with modern cybersecurity best practices.