CVE-2026-76748 in AOS-Switch
Summary
by MITRE • 10/06/2026
A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the API of AOS-S. Successful exploitation could allow an authenticated read-only user to escalate their privileges and gain administrative access to the affected system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2026
The identified vulnerability represents a critical flaw within the application programming interface (API) of Aruba OS-Switch, commonly referred to as AOS-S. This security defect is classified under CWE-269, which denotes Improper Control of Interaction with Untrusted Input leading to Privilege Escalation. The core technical issue stems from insufficient authorization checks performed by the API endpoint when processing requests initiated by users who have been assigned read-only roles. In a properly secured system architecture, role-based access control mechanisms must strictly enforce boundaries between different privilege levels, ensuring that actions requiring administrative rights are only permitted for accounts explicitly granted those permissions. However, in this specific implementation, the validation logic fails to adequately verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary elevated privileges before executing commands or modifying configuration settings associated with system administration.
From a technical perspective, the vulnerability allows an authenticated attacker who has obtained read-only credentials to bypass these restrictions and execute administrative functions. This typically involves crafting specific HTTP requests that target internal API endpoints designed for high-privilege operations. Because the backend service does not correctly map the user's current role to the required permission set for each action, it processes the request as if it originated from an administrator account. This breakdown in access control logic effectively neutralizes the security benefit of implementing least-privilege principles within the network infrastructure management plane. The attacker can leverage this flaw to modify critical system configurations, alter user accounts, disable logging mechanisms, or potentially install malicious firmware updates, thereby gaining full administrative control over the switch hardware and its associated network segments.
The operational impact of exploiting this vulnerability is severe, as it compromises the integrity and availability of the entire network segment managed by the affected device. An attacker with administrative access can reconfigure routing protocols, modify firewall rules to allow unauthorized traffic, or isolate specific parts of the network from management tools. Furthermore, because AOS-S devices often serve as critical infrastructure components in enterprise environments, gaining control over them provides a significant foothold for lateral movement within the internal network. This aligns with MITRE ATT&CK technique T1078, Valid Accounts, where adversaries use legitimate credentials to maintain persistence and expand their access scope. The ability of a low-privilege user to escalate to admin status undermines trust in identity management systems and can lead to data exfiltration, service disruption, or the establishment of persistent backdoors that are difficult to detect due to the lack of appropriate audit trails for such unauthorized privilege changes.
To mitigate this risk, immediate action is required from system administrators responsible for maintaining Aruba OS-Switch environments. The primary remediation step involves applying the latest software patches released by the vendor, which address the flawed authorization logic within the API service. Organizations should also implement network segmentation strategies to restrict access to management interfaces only from trusted IP addresses and dedicated administrative workstations. Additionally, enforcing multi-factor authentication for all user accounts, including read-only ones, adds a layer of defense that can prevent unauthorized individuals from obtaining valid credentials in the first place. Regular auditing of API usage logs and monitoring for anomalous privilege escalation attempts are also recommended to detect potential exploitation activities early. By combining software updates with robust access control policies and continuous monitoring, organizations can significantly reduce their exposure to this critical vulnerability.