Description

An ACAP configuration file lacks input validation, which could potentially lead to privilege escalation. This vulnerability can only be exploited if the Axis device is configured to allow the installation of unsigned ACAP applications, and if an attacker convinces the victim to install a malicious ACAP application.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "5.7",
  "pubDate": "2026-08-11T06:17:16.720Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-08-11T06:17:16.720Z",
  "executiveSummary": "An input validation vulnerability has been identified within the ACAP configuration file handling mechanisms of Axis devices. This security flaw introduces the risk of privilege escalation, potentially allowing unauthorized actors to elevate their execution context on the target hardware. The vulnerability impacts Axis devices supporting the AXIS Camera Application Platform (ACAP) architecture when specific insecure configuration states are enabled.\nThe risk implications are significant, as successful exploitation could grant an attacker elevated system privileges, undermining the integrity and confidentiality of the device. However, the attack surface is heavily constrained by strict prerequisite conditions. Exploitation requires that the targeted Axis device is explicitly configured to permit the installation of unsigned ACAP applications—a deviation from default secure operational baselines. Furthermore, the attack vector relies heavily on social engineering vectors, necessitating that an attacker successfully convinces a user or administrator to manually install a crafted, malicious ACAP package.\nAttacker capabilities in a successful scenario involve executing arbitrary application logic within the privileged operational domain of the ACAP runtime environment, leveraging the configuration parsing deficiency to bypass standard security controls.",
  "technicalDetails": "The root cause of the vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation implemented within the ACAP configuration file processing logic. When configuration files associated with ACAP applications are parsed by the vulnerable component, the lack of rigorous sanitization and validation checks allows malformed or maliciously crafted configuration parameters to be processed improperly.\nThe vulnerable component resides within the configuration parsing subsystem of the ACAP framework on affected Axis devices. Because the parser fails to adequately validate input parameters, an attacker can manipulate configuration directives to induce unintended parsing behaviors or logic flaws during the installation phase of the application package.\nThe exploitation method relies on the deployment of a specially crafted ACAP application containing a malicious configuration file. The attack flow proceeds in a sequential manner: first, the attacker must ensure or induce the target Axis device to be configured to allow the installation of unsigned ACAP applications, bypassing cryptographic verification checks normally enforced by secure boot or package signing policies. Second, the attacker employs social engineering tactics to deceive an administrative user into downloading and installing the malicious ACAP application package onto the device.\nUpon initiation of the installation process, the Axis device extracts and processes the ACAP configuration file. Due to the absence of proper input validation, the parsing engine mishandles the malicious input data. This failure in parsing logic can be leveraged to achieve privilege escalation, allowing the execution context of the malicious ACAP application to transcend standard sandboxed limitations and gain elevated privileges within the system architecture.\nRegarding operational requirements and constraints, the vulnerability requires local interaction via the installation interface, though it is fundamentally dependent on the insecure administrative posture of allowing unsigned applications. The network exposure is limited to the administrative interfaces used for application management. Post-exploitation impact includes unauthorized privilege escalation, persistent execution of unauthorized code within the elevated context, and potential compromise of device functionality and connected surveillance streams."
}