Description

Authentication bypasses in the API of HPE Networking Fabric Composer could allow an authenticated low privilege operator user to circumvent existing authentication controls. Successful exploitation could allow an attacker to retain limited access to the affected system after that access should have been revoked.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "5.4",
  "pubDate": "2026-09-01T20:17:20.910Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-09-01T20:17:20.910Z",
  "executiveSummary": "This vulnerability involves an authentication bypass flaw within the API of HPE Networking Fabric Composer, classified as an improper access control issue. The vulnerability allows an authenticated operator with low-level privileges to circumvent established authentication mechanisms, effectively negating access control policies.\nThe primary impact of this flaw is the unauthorized retention of session access, permitting an attacker to maintain a presence within the affected system even after their legitimate access privileges should have been terminated. This persistent access poses a significant security risk by enabling unauthorized interaction with the management interface.\nThe vulnerability affects HPE Networking Fabric Composer environments. Exploitation requires the attacker to already possess low-privilege operator credentials. Successful execution does not necessarily require additional privileges beyond those initially granted, as the flaw resides in the authentication session validation logic of the API. Consequently, this allows an attacker to bypass standard revocation procedures, potentially leading to persistent unauthorized administrative or operational activities.\nOrganizations utilizing HPE Networking Fabric Composer should treat this as a high-priority risk, particularly in environments where operator turnover is frequent or where granular access control is a primary security requirement.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability manifests as a flaw in the API authentication layer of HPE Networking Fabric Composer, where session validation routines fail to correctly enforce the expiration or revocation of active security tokens for low-privileged operator accounts. The root cause appears to be improper synchronization between the session management service and the system's central identity and access management (IAM) provider, specifically when handling revocation requests or session invalidation triggers.\nUnder normal operating conditions, when a user's access is revoked or a session is terminated, the API should purge the associated session tokens from the active memory cache and invalidate any subsequent API calls associated with that session ID. In the vulnerable implementation, the API endpoint fails to verify the current status of the session against the central authority upon each request, allowing an attacker to reuse a previously valid, yet theoretically revoked, session token.\nThe attack flow proceeds as follows: First, a low-privilege operator authenticates normally through the HPE Networking Fabric Composer interface. Second, the system issues a valid session token, which is subsequently captured by the attacker. Third, the administrator performs an action that should terminate or revoke the operator's access. Fourth, instead of the session being terminated system-wide, the API continues to honor the existing, albeit revoked, session token because the validation logic relies on cached or stale session state information rather than a real-time lookup.\nThis behavior facilitates a state of persistent access where an attacker, having transitioned from an authorized user to a revoked user, can continue to interact with API endpoints that they should no longer have the authorization to call. The exploitation does not require advanced memory corruption techniques; rather, it is a logic flaw in how the API handles stateful request validation. The impact is limited to the privileges originally assigned to the operator; however, the ability to bypass revocation mechanisms allows an attacker to maintain a continuous, unauthorized presence within the networking management fabric, potentially facilitating lateral movement or configuration manipulation if the operator account possesses sufficient functional permissions to impact the network state."
}