CVE-2026-86218
KEV: known exploited SSVC: activepre-authentication remote code execution
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
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
Attack conditions and impact
Derived from the NVD CVSS 3.1 vectorThis vulnerability may be exploitable over the internet without authentication or user interaction.
| Metric | Value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Attack vector AV | N | Network |
| Attack complexity AC | L | Low (easy) |
| Privileges required PR | N | None |
| User interaction UI | N | None |
| Scope S | U | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality C | H | High |
| Integrity I | H | High |
| Availability A | H | High |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Description
N-central is vulnerable to a pre-auth remote code execution This issue affects N-central: before 2026.3.1.14.
CISA KEV entry
N-able N-central Static Code Injection Vulnerability — N-able / N-central
N-able N-central contains a static code injection vulnerability that could allow for pre-authentication remote code execution.
Required action: Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines.
https://status.n-able.com/2026/09/06/n-central-2026-3-hotfix-4-cve-2026-86218/ ; https://me.n-able.com/s/security-advisory/aArVy0000002Ld3KAE/cve202686218-preauthentication-remote-code-execution ; BOD 26-04: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-26-04-prioritizing-security-updates-based-risk ; Forensics Triage Requirements: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-26-04-implementation-guidance-prioritizing-security-updates-based-risk ; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-86218
CVSS assessments
| Provider | Version | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVD / a5532a13-c4dd-4202-bef1-e0b8f2f8d12b (Secondary) | 4.0 | 10.0 CRITICAL | 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:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X |
| NVD / [email protected] (Primary) | 3.1 | 9.8 CRITICAL | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| CNA / N-able | 4.0 | 10.0 CRITICAL | 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 |
Affected products and packages
CNA (CVE.org)
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| N-able | N-central | affected: 0 … < 2026.3.1.14 default: unaffected |
NVD CPE (5)
Show CPE list
| Vendor | Product | Range | CPE |
|---|---|---|---|
| n-able | n-central | < 2026.3 | cpe:2.3:a:n-able:n-central:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
| n-able | n-central | cpe:2.3:a:n-able:n-central:2026.3:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| n-able | n-central | cpe:2.3:a:n-able:n-central:2026.3:hotfix1:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| n-able | n-central | cpe:2.3:a:n-able:n-central:2026.3:hotfix2:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| n-able | n-central | cpe:2.3:a:n-able:n-central:2026.3:hotfix3:*:*:*:*:*:* |
Linux distribution status
References (2)
- https://me.n-able.com/s/security-advisory/aArVy0000002Ld3KAE/cve202686218-preauthentication-remote-code-execution NVD, CNA Vendor Advisoryvendor-advisory
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-86218 NVD, ADP CISA-ADP US Government Resourcegovernment-resource