Evidence used
- No CISA KEV confirmation is currently recorded.
- The selected CVSS metric records a network-reachable, unauthenticated path with no user interaction.
- EPSS is 0.51% for the current model date.
BlackTreeCVE IntelligenceFull vulnerability report · 2026
CVE-2026-73778High confidence
Credential Manager Vulnerability Allows Unauthorized Administrative Access
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) · AOS-CX
8.1HighCVSS 3.1
Within 7 days
Patch availableHigh technical severity; prioritise exposed affected systems while verifying vendor guidance.
R
Open reassessment dashboard →Operational reassessment
Published severity in operational context
Published severityHigh→Operational priority:High, unchanged from published severity.unchanged
Compensating controls
- Validate the affected product branch and deploy the verified fixed release.
- Restrict the affected network interface to trusted sources where business-safe.
- Monitor vendor guidance and exploitation sources for a material change.
Verification
- Confirm that the asset runs Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) AOS-CX and falls inside the recorded affected range.
- Verify the installed build against the product-specific fixed version after deployment.
- Validate exposure, authentication requirements and compensating controls in the actual environment.
- Reopen this reassessment when CVSS, KEV, EPSS, exploit evidence or remediation changes.
Direct vendor intelligence
1 currentAuthoritative vendor CSAF and VEX advisories
Structured product status and remediation from the issuing vendor. Product-state explanations are always visible; large lists can be searched or downloaded.
HPESBNW05134 · CSAF 2.0 · revision 1 · finalHPE NetworkingCredential Manager Vulnerability Allows Unauthorized Administrative Access
The vendor explicitly identifies these products as affected by this CVE.
- HPE Networking AOS-CX
- HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX
- Summary
- A vulnerability exists in the Credential Manager component that may allow for unauthorized administrative access. An unauthenticated remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability on a device in its factory-default or post-ZTP state before any administrator has configured credentials by providing a predictable factory-default password. Successful exploitation could result in full administrative control of the affected device during the initial setup process.
- Remediation
- In order to address the vulnerabilities described in the Details Section, HPE Networking recommends upgrading the HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX software to one of the following versions (as applicable): - AOS-CX 10.10.1181 and above - AOS-CX 10.13.1190 and above - AOS-CX 10.16.1060 and above - AOS-CX 10.17.1030 and above - AOS-CX 10.18.1002 and above Software versions with resolution/fixes for the disclosed vulnerabilities can be downloaded from the HPE Networking Support Portal at: https://networkingsupport.hpe.com/home/. Product software versions that have reached End of Maintenance (EoM) are presumed to be affected by the vulnerabilities unless explicitly stated otherwise, and are not completely addressed by this security advisory. For deployments running software versions that are past End of Support (EoS), HPE Networking has not assessed exposure to the vulnerabilities referenced in this advisory. As a result, such installations should be considered potentially impacted by the listed CVE. Customers are strongly encouraged to upgrade to a supported software release to ensure proper evaluation and remediation.
High technical severity; prioritise exposed affected systems while verifying vendor guidance.
Patch available01
What, why and how
A vulnerability exists in the Credential Manager component that may allow for unauthorized administrative access. An unauthenticated remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability on a device in its factory-default or post-ZTP state before any administrator has configured credentials by providing a predictable factory-default password. Successful exploitation could result in full administrative control of the affected device during the initial setup process.
What
A vulnerability exists in the Credential Manager component that may allow for unauthorized administrative access. An unauthenticated remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability on a device in its factory-default or post-ZTP state before any administrator has configured credentials by providing a predictable factory-default password. Successful exploitation could result in full administrative control of the affected device during the initial setup process.
Why
The product does not require that users should have strong passwords.
How
An attacker operating through a network path may attempt exploitation without authentication or user interaction. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.
What
A vulnerability exists in the Credential Manager component that may allow for unauthorized administrative access. An unauthenticated remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability on a device in its factory-default or post-ZTP state before any administrator has configured credentials by providing a predictable factory-default password. Successful exploitation could result in full administrative control of the affected device during the initial setup process.
Why
The product does not require that users should have strong passwords.
How
An attacker operating through a network path may attempt exploitation without authentication or user interaction. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.
02
Exploit reality and attack path
CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.
Observed exploitation No confirmed evidence
?
Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.No CISA KEV match was present at the last successful refresh. This means no confirmation from that source, not proof of no exploitation.
Public PoC / exploit material None recorded
?
Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.
- Likely attack path
- a network path → Weak Password Requirements → cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor
- Attack surface
- Network
- Privileges required
- None: unauthenticated exploitation is possible
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High: exploitation depends on specific conditions
- Security boundary
- Unchanged: impact remains within the vulnerable component's security authority
- Weakness
?
CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness. - CWE-521 ↗
CWE-521: Weak Password Requirements. The product does not require that users should have strong passwords.
- CVSS vector
?
CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity. CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HCommon Vulnerability Scoring System 3.1: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.
AVNetworkAttack vector: The vulnerable component can be reached over a network.ACHighAttack complexity: Successful exploitation depends on specific conditions outside the attacker's direct control.PRNonePrivileges required: The attacker does not need an account or existing privileges.UINoneUser interaction: No action by another user is required.SUnchangedScope: The security impact remains within the vulnerable component's authority.CHighConfidentiality impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.IHighIntegrity impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.AHighAvailability impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.- Post-exploitation / living off the land
- Stolen credentials, tokens and legitimate administration functions may provide continued access without deploying a large custom toolset.
03
Patch and workaround
Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.
- Status
?
Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change. - Patch available
- Action
- In order to address the vulnerabilities described in the Details Section, HPE Networking recommends upgrading the HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX software to one of the following versions (as applicable): - AOS-CX 10.10.1181 and above - AOS-CX 10.13.1190 and above - AOS-CX 10.16.1060 and above - AOS-CX 10.17.1030 and above - AOS-CX 10.18.1002 and above Software versions with resolution/fixes for the disclosed vulnerabilities can be downloaded from the HPE Networking Support Portal at: https://networkingsupport.hpe.com/home/. Product software versions that have reached End of Maintenance (EoM) are presumed to be affected by the vulnerabilities unless explicitly stated otherwise, and are not completely addressed by this security advisory. For deployments running software versions that are past End of Support (EoS), HPE Networking has not assessed exposure to the vulnerabilities referenced in this advisory. As a result, such installations should be considered potentially impacted by the listed CVE. Customers are strongly encouraged to upgrade to a supported software release to ensure proper evaluation and remediation.
- Workaround
- No verified workaround is recorded. If business-safe, reduce exposure to the affected interface and allow only trusted sources until authoritative guidance is available.
04
Evidence and provenance
Published 1 Sept 2026 · Last source change 3 Sept 2026, 03:56 UTC · CWE-521 · Weak Password Requirements
CVE recordCVE.org · 5.2
CVSS sourceCNA
EPSS source FIRST · tracked since 2026-09-02
?
The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2026-69641
Product sourceVendor CSAF · HPE Networking
Remediation sourceVendor CSAF · HPE Networking
CWE sourceCISA ADP
NVD statusNVD enriched
Core structured fields are present and their contributing authorities are shown above.
Material change intelligence
View recent updates ↗What changed after publication
- BlackTree coverageBlackTree article coverage changed from no BlackTree article to 1 BlackTree article.BlackTree editorial ↗
- Before
- no BlackTree article
- After
- 1 BlackTree article
- Vendor guidanceAuthoritative vendor guidance changed: added patch: support.hpe.com/docDisplay?docId=hpesbnw05134en_us&docLocale=en_US; added remediation: support.hpe.com/docDisplay?docId=hpesbnw05134en_us&docLocale=en_US.security-alert@hpe.com ↗
- Before
- no authoritative guidance recorded
- After
- patch: support.hpe.com/docDisplay?docId=hpesbnw05134en_us&docLocale=en_US · remediation: support.hpe.com/docDisplay?docId=hpesbnw05134en_us&docLocale=en_US
- Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.CNA ↗
- Before
- 10.18.0000 ≤ 10.18.0001; 10.17.0000 ≤ 10.17.1021; 10.16.0000 ≤ 10.16.1051; 10.13.0000 ≤ 10.13.1180; 10.10.0000 ≤ 10.10.1180 · Fixed: No fixed version is explicitly recorded in the structured CVE data.
- After
- 10.18.0000 ≤ 10.18.0001; 10.17.0000 ≤ 10.17.1021; 10.16.0000 ≤ 10.16.1051; 10.13.0000 ≤ 10.13.1180; 10.10.0000 ≤ 10.10.1180 · Fixed: An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
- Remediation statusRemediation status changed from Awaiting fix to Patch available.security-alert@hpe.com ↗
- Before
- Awaiting fix
- After
- Patch available
- ENISA EUVD mappingEUVD-2026-69641 was added to the official ENISA EUVD mapping for this CVE.ENISA EUVD ↗
- Before
- not recorded
- After
- {"euvdId":"EUVD-2026-69641"}
- Catalogue recordCVE added to the BlackTree catalogue.CNA ↗
- Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.HPE Networking ↗
- Before
- 10.18.0000 ≤ 10.18.0001; 10.17.0000 ≤ 10.17.1021; 10.16.0000 ≤ 10.16.1051; 10.13.0000 ≤ 10.13.1180; 10.10.0000 ≤ 10.10.1180 · Fixed: An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
- After
- 10.18.0000 ≤ 10.18.0001; 10.17.0000 ≤ 10.17.1021; 10.16.0000 ≤ 10.16.1051; 10.13.0000 ≤ 10.13.1180; 10.10.0000 ≤ 10.10.1180 · Fixed: In order to address the vulnerabilities described in the Details Section, HPE Networking recommends upgrading the HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX software to one of the following versions (as applicable): - AOS-CX 10.10.1181 and above - AOS-CX 10.13.1190 and above - AOS-CX 10.16.1060 and above - AOS-CX 10.17.1030 and above - AOS-CX 10.18.1002 and above Software versions with resolution/fixes for the disclosed vulnerabilities can be downloaded from the HPE Networking Support Portal at: https://networkingsupport.hpe.com/home/. Product software versions that have reached End of Maintenance (EoM) are presumed to be affected by the vulnerabilities unless explicitly stated otherwise, and are not completely addressed by this security advisory. For deployments running software versions that are past End of Support (EoS), HPE Networking has not assessed exposure to the vulnerabilities referenced in this advisory. As a result, such installations should be considered potentially impacted by the listed CVE. Customers are strongly encouraged to upgrade to a supported software release to ensure proper evaluation and remediation.
CVE published
Fixed release or patch reference recorded
Fixed release recorded from official guidance
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
- CVE
- Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
- CVSS
- Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
- EPSS
- Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
- CWE
- Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
- CNA
- CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
- CISA ADP
- Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
- NVD
- National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
- CERT / CSIRT
- A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
- PoC
- Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
- CSAF
- Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
- LoTL
- Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.