{"id":"CVE-2026-84731","state":"PUBLISHED","title":"Pre-Authentication Admin Bypass and Remote Code Execution in Nutanix Prism Gateway inside AOS","description":"An unauthenticated remote attacker can bypass authentication and gain full access to administrative API endpoints in Nutanix Prism Element by including a crafted internal management HTTP header. The vulnerability is caused by a misconfiguration in the application's authentication filters.\n\n\n\nConsequently, the server responds with a Set-Cookie header containing a valid JSESSIONID. This session cookie decodes to a JSON Web Token (JWT) granting maximum cluster administrative privileges. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to execute root-level commands on all Controller VMs (CVMs) in the cluster, leading to complete cluster destruction and unauthorized access to VM memory and virtual disks.","publishedAt":"2026-10-15T17:10:29.432Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-15T19:14:57.185Z","severity":{"score":9.3,"label":"Critical","version":"4.0","vector":"CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H/E:P/S:N/AU:Y/R:U/V:C/RE:H/U:Red","source":"Nutanix"},"assigner":"Nutanix","products":["Nutanix Acropolis Operating System (AOS)"],"affected":[{"vendor":"Nutanix","product":"Acropolis Operating System (AOS)","defaultStatus":"unaffected","versions":[{"version":"0","status":"affected","lessThan":"7.3.1.18","changes":[{"at":"7.3.1.18","status":"unaffected"}],"versionType":"custom"},{"version":"7.5","status":"affected","lessThan":"7.5.2","changes":[{"at":"7.5.2","status":"unaffected"}],"versionType":"custom"},{"version":"7.6","status":"affected","lessThan":"7.6.0.8","changes":[{"at":"7.6.0.8","status":"unaffected"}],"versionType":"custom"}],"modules":["Prism Gateway"]}],"references":["https://download.nutanix.com/alerts/Security_Advisory_0058.pdf","https://portal.nutanix.com/page/documents/list?type=software&filterKey=software&filterVal=AOS","https://www.nutanix.com/support"],"weaknesses":["CWE-306","CWE-290","CWE-302"],"ingestedAt":"2026-10-29T20:13:15.269Z","source":{"repository":"CVEProject/cvelistV5","path":"cves/2026/84xxx/CVE-2026-84731.json","commit":"556c9d3a8cd17e218bb8e452ba7cd619a384ff47"},"raw":{"dataType":"CVE_RECORD","dataVersion":"5.2","cveMetadata":{"cveId":"CVE-2026-84731","state":"PUBLISHED","datePublished":"2026-10-15T17:10:29.432Z","dateUpdated":"2026-10-15T19:14:57.185Z","assignerShortName":"Nutanix","assignerOrgId":"2ffdacf6-8681-47df-b023-4f11abd61c1d","dateReserved":"2026-09-02T06:41:54.722Z"},"containers":{"cna":{"title":"Pre-Authentication Admin Bypass and Remote Code Execution in Nutanix Prism Gateway inside AOS","descriptions":[{"lang":"en","value":"An unauthenticated remote attacker can bypass authentication and gain full access to administrative API endpoints in Nutanix Prism Element by including a crafted internal management HTTP header. The vulnerability is caused by a misconfiguration in the application's authentication filters.\n\n\n\nConsequently, the server responds with a Set-Cookie header containing a valid JSESSIONID. This session cookie decodes to a JSON Web Token (JWT) granting maximum cluster administrative privileges. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to execute root-level commands on all Controller VMs (CVMs) in the cluster, leading to complete cluster destruction and unauthorized access to VM memory and virtual disks."}],"affected":[{"vendor":"Nutanix","product":"Acropolis Operating System (AOS)","defaultStatus":"unaffected","versions":[{"version":"0","status":"affected","lessThan":"7.3.1.18","changes":[{"at":"7.3.1.18","status":"unaffected"}],"versionType":"custom"},{"version":"7.5","status":"affected","lessThan":"7.5.2","changes":[{"at":"7.5.2","status":"unaffected"}],"versionType":"custom"},{"version":"7.6","status":"affected","lessThan":"7.6.0.8","changes":[{"at":"7.6.0.8","status":"unaffected"}],"versionType":"custom"}],"modules":["Prism 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Impact":"total"}],"role":"CNA","version":"2.0.3"}},"scenarios":[{"lang":"en","value":"GENERAL"}]}],"problemTypes":[{"descriptions":[{"cweId":"CWE-306","lang":"en","description":"CWE-306 Missing authentication for critical function","type":"CWE"}]},{"descriptions":[{"cweId":"CWE-290","lang":"en","description":"CWE-290 Authentication bypass by spoofing","type":"CWE"}]},{"descriptions":[{"cweId":"CWE-302","lang":"en","description":"CWE-302 Authentication bypass by Assumed-Immutable data","type":"CWE"}]}],"providerMetadata":{"shortName":"Nutanix","orgId":"2ffdacf6-8681-47df-b023-4f11abd61c1d","dateUpdated":"2026-10-15T17:10:29.432Z"},"datePublic":"2026-10-15T17:11:00.000Z","impacts":[{"capecId":"CAPEC-115","descriptions":[{"lang":"en","value":"CAPEC-115 Authentication Bypass"}]}],"cpeApplicability":[{"operator":"OR","nodes":[{"operator":"OR","negate":false,"cpeMatch":[{"vulnerable":true,"criteria":"cpe:2.3:a:nutanix:aos_:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"0","versionEndExcluding":"7.3.1.18"},{"vulnerable":true,"criteria":"cpe:2.3:a:nutanix:aos_:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"7.5","versionEndExcluding":"7.5.2"},{"vulnerable":true,"criteria":"cpe:2.3:a:nutanix:aos_:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"7.6","versionEndExcluding":"7.6.0.8"}]}]}],"tags":["x_api-security","x_unauthenticated-access","x_prism-gateway","x_aos","x_pre-auth","x_rce"],"configurations":[{"lang":"en","value":"The vulnerability affects Nutanix AOS versions running Prism Gateway, where the Prism Element management port (9440) is exposed directly to the public internet (or an open network) without a firewall to block malicious traffic.","supportingMedia":[{"type":"text/html","base64":false,"value":"The vulnerability affects Nutanix AOS versions running Prism Gateway, where the Prism Element management port (9440) is exposed directly to the public internet (or an open network) without a firewall to block malicious traffic."}]}],"workarounds":[{"lang":"en","value":"Organizations can mitigate this issue prior to patching by enforcing the following controls:\n\n  *  Network Segmentation: Restrict access to the Prism Element management port (9440) strictly to dedicated management VLANs, jump boxes or authorized IP ranges.\n\n  *  Ingress Traffic Filtering: Configure upstream Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) or ingress reverse proxies to strip specific internal management headers from incoming API requests before they reach the cluster.\n\n\n\nNote on WAF Configuration workaround: Nutanix is willing to securely provide the exact header string via Support to verified existing customers who are temporarily unable to apply the patch.","supportingMedia":[{"type":"text/html","base64":false,"value":"<p><span>Organizations can mitigate this issue prior to patching by enforcing the following controls</span>:</p><ul><li><strong>Network Segmentation:</strong> Restrict access to the Prism Element management port (9440) strictly to dedicated management VLANs, jump boxes or authorized IP ranges.<br></li><li><strong>Ingress Traffic Filtering:</strong> Configure upstream Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) or ingress reverse proxies to strip specific internal management headers from incoming API requests before they reach<span>&nbsp;the cluster.</span><br></li></ul><div><i>Note on WAF Configuration workaround: Nutanix is willing to securely provide the exact header string via Support to verified existing customers who are temporarily unable to apply the patch.</i></div>"}]}],"solutions":[{"lang":"en","value":"Upgrade affected Nutanix AOS deployments to version 7.3.1.18, 7.5.2, 7.6.0.8 or later fixed releases.","supportingMedia":[{"type":"text/html","base64":false,"value":"<p>Upgrade affected Nutanix AOS deployments to version&nbsp;<b>7.3.1.18, 7.5.2, 7.6.0.8</b>&nbsp;or later fixed releases.<br></p>"}]}],"exploits":[{"lang":"en","value":"Proof-of-concept exploitation was validated during responsible disclosure. No public exploit code or automated attack toolkits are currently known to be publicly distributed.","supportingMedia":[{"type":"text/html","base64":false,"value":"<p>Proof-of-concept exploitation was validated during responsible disclosure. No public exploit code or automated attack toolkits are currently known to be publicly distributed.<br></p>"}]}],"timeline":[{"time":"2026-08-26T17:47:00.000Z","lang":"en","value":"Vulnerability reported to Nutanix via HackerOne"},{"time":"2026-08-27T20:46:00.000Z","lang":"en","value":"Proof of concept validated."},{"time":"2026-09-17T13:08:00.000Z","lang":"en","value":"Remediation verified across affected release branches."},{"time":"2026-09-22T17:27:00.000Z","lang":"en","value":"Fix integrated into AOS maintenance releases."},{"time":"2026-10-04T18:30:00.000Z","lang":"en","value":"AOS version 7.6.0.8 released."},{"time":"2026-10-05T18:30:00.000Z","lang":"en","value":"AOS version 7.3.1.18 released."},{"time":"2026-10-12T18:30:00.000Z","lang":"en","value":"AOS version 7.5.2 released."},{"time":"2026-10-15T17:11:00.000Z","lang":"en","value":"Public security advisory and CVE published."}],"credits":[{"lang":"en","value":"Brandon McGrath (mez-0)","type":"reporter"}],"source":{"discovery":"EXTERNAL"},"x_generator":{"engine":"Vulnogram 1.0.5"}},"adp":[{"title":"CISA ADP Vulnrichment","metrics":[{"other":{"type":"ssvc","content":{"id":"CVE-2026-84731","role":"CISA Coordinator","options":[{"Exploitation":"none"},{"Automatable":"yes"},{"Technical Impact":"total"}],"version":"2.0.3","timestamp":"2026-10-15T17:29:00.505460Z"}}}],"providerMetadata":{"shortName":"CISA-ADP","orgId":"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0","dateUpdated":"2026-10-15T19:14:57.185Z"}}]}}}