Description

NVIDIA Infrastructure Controller for Linux contains a vulnerability where an attacker could cause use of a hard-coded password. A successful exploit of this vulnerability might lead to data tampering, denial of service, and information disclosure.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "5.0",
  "pubDate": "2026-09-22T15:17:12.297Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-09-22T15:17:12.297Z",
  "executiveSummary": "The NVIDIA Infrastructure Controller for Linux is susceptible to a vulnerability involving the implementation of hard-coded credentials within the system.\nThis vulnerability is classified as an authentication bypass or improper credential management flaw, which grants unauthorized access to the controller interface.\nThe impact of this vulnerability is critical, as it potentially allows a remote or local attacker to perform data tampering, trigger a denial of service (DoS) state, and gain unauthorized access to sensitive system information.\nThe vulnerability affects the core authentication logic of the NVIDIA Infrastructure Controller for Linux.\nAttackers do not require complex exploitation techniques, as they can leverage the static, pre-defined password to authenticate successfully.\nSuccessful exploitation bypasses established security controls, enabling an attacker to assume the privileges associated with the hard-coded account.\nOrganizations deploying this controller are at significant risk of unauthorized command execution and infrastructure manipulation.\nThis vulnerability highlights a critical failure in secure development practices regarding secret management and administrative access control.",
  "technicalDetails": "The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the integration of a static, immutable password within the NVIDIA Infrastructure Controller for Linux software stack. Instead of utilizing a dynamic, secure, or administrator-defined password derivation function, the application employs a hard-coded credential for internal administrative services or interface access.\nFrom an exploitation perspective, an attacker identifies the hard-coded credential through static analysis of the binary, configuration files, or scripts associated with the Infrastructure Controller. Once the credential is recovered, the attacker interacts with the controller's authentication mechanism.\nThe attack flow begins with the adversary initiating a connection to the vulnerable service, which typically requires administrative interaction. Upon reaching the authentication challenge, the attacker supplies the recovered hard-coded password. Because the system lacks a mechanism to rotate or invalidate this credential, the authentication service accepts the input as valid, granting the attacker access to the controller's functionality.\nOnce authenticated, the attacker operates with the privileges defined by the hard-coded account. This level of access often allows for the execution of administrative commands, manipulation of data structures, and the potential to shut down services or cause instability, resulting in a denial of service. Furthermore, an attacker can extract system configuration files, logs, and other sensitive environmental data, leading to unauthorized information disclosure.\nThe vulnerable component is identified within the authentication module of the NVIDIA Infrastructure Controller for Linux. The flaw is persistent, meaning the risk remains as long as the hard-coded credential is present in the software image or current deployment configuration. There is no requirement for sophisticated exploit chains; the static nature of the credential allows for trivial authentication bypass.\nThis vulnerability increases the attack surface significantly, as it provides a predictable entry point for malicious actors. Whether the controller is exposed to the local network or wider segments, the hard-coded password negates the efficacy of local account management. Post-exploitation, the attacker has the capability to persist within the infrastructure environment, potentially leveraging the controller to pivot to deeper segments of the network, depending on the controller's specific roles and integrations within the host operating system."
}