CVE-2026-76743 in AOS-Switch
Summary
by MITRE • 10/06/2026
A vulnerability have been identified in the management interface of AOS-S that could potentially allow an unauthenticated remote attacker to circumvent existing authentication controls if certain preconditions outside of the attacker's control are met. Successful exploitation could allow an attacker to gain unauthorized access to the affected system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2026
The vulnerability described pertains to a critical security flaw within the management interface of ArubaOS-Switch, commonly referred to as AOS-S. This software is widely deployed in enterprise networking environments to manage switches and other network infrastructure devices. The core issue involves an authentication bypass mechanism that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to gain access to the system under specific conditions. While the vulnerability does not allow for direct exploitation by any attacker at all times, it relies on preconditions outside of the attacker's control being met. These preconditions typically involve configuration states or operational modes where the device may expose certain administrative functions without requiring proper credential verification. This type of flaw is particularly dangerous because it undermines one of the fundamental pillars of network security: authentication integrity.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability represents a failure in access control logic within the web-based management interface. The system likely fails to properly validate session tokens or credentials for specific API endpoints or administrative pages when certain environmental conditions are present. This could be due to improper state handling where the device assumes a user is authenticated based on previous interactions that have since expired, or it may involve a race condition in how authentication checks are performed against authorization policies. The flaw aligns with CWE-287, which describes Improper Authentication, and more specifically CWE-306, Missing Authentication for Critical Function. In many enterprise networks, the management interface is used to configure VLANs, routing protocols, and security policies. If an attacker can bypass authentication, they effectively assume the role of a network administrator without possessing valid credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it grants unauthorized access to critical infrastructure controls. An unauthenticated remote attacker who successfully exploits this flaw could modify switch configurations, potentially leading to denial-of-service conditions by shutting down ports or misconfiguring routing tables. Furthermore, the attacker could intercept sensitive network traffic if they alter spanning tree protocols or VLAN assignments. In a broader context, gaining administrative access allows for lateral movement within the network, as the compromised device can be used as a pivot point to attack other systems on the same subnet. This aligns with MITRE ATT&CK technique T1078, Valid Accounts, where attackers leverage legitimate credentials or bypass authentication mechanisms to maintain persistent access and escalate privileges within the environment.
Mitigation strategies must focus on both immediate remediation and long-term hardening of network infrastructure. The primary defense is to apply the latest software patches provided by Aruba Networks that address this specific authentication flaw in AOS-S. Organizations should verify their current version against vendor advisories to ensure they are not running vulnerable code. In addition to patching, it is crucial to restrict access to the management interface using network segmentation and firewall rules. The management ports should only be accessible from trusted administrative subnets or through a secure jump host rather than being exposed directly on public-facing networks. Implementing multi-factor authentication for all administrative interfaces adds an additional layer of security that can mitigate risks even if password-based bypass attempts occur. Regular auditing of access logs is also recommended to detect any unauthorized login attempts or anomalous configuration changes that might indicate exploitation activity.