CVE-2026-86218

Published Sep 6, 2026

Last updated 5 hours ago

Overview

AI description

Automated description summarized from trusted sources.

CVE-2026-86218 is identified as a pre-authentication remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability affecting N-able N-central, an on-premises remote monitoring and management (RMM) platform. This flaw impacts all N-central versions released prior to 2026.3.1.14. It can be exploited by a remote, unauthenticated attacker without requiring any user interaction. The root cause of CVE-2026-86218 is attributed to improper neutralization of directives in statically saved code, classified as CWE-96. This allows attacker-supplied input to be injected and subsequently executed as code on the server. N-able has released Hotfix 4 for N-central 2026.3, bringing the build to version 2026.3.1.14, to address this vulnerability.

Description: N-central is vulnerable to a pre-auth remote code execution This issue affects N-central: before 2026.3.1.14.
Source: a5532a13-c4dd-4202-bef1-e0b8f2f8d12b
NVD status: Analyzed
Products: n-central

Risk scores

CVSS 4.0

Type: Secondary
Base score: 10
Impact score: -
Exploitability score: -
Vector string: 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
Severity: CRITICAL

CVSS 3.1

Type: Primary
Base score: 9.8
Impact score: 5.9
Exploitability score: 3.9
Vector string: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Severity: CRITICAL

Known exploits

Data from CISA

Vulnerability name: N-able N-central Static Code Injection Vulnerability
Exploit added on: Sep 8, 2026
Exploit action due: Sep 11, 2026
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.

Weaknesses

a5532a13-c4dd-4202-bef1-e0b8f2f8d12b: CWE-96

Hype score: Not currently trending

Configurations

[
  {
    "nodes": [
      {
        "cpeMatch": [
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:n-able:n-central:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "matchCriteriaId": "6CEC2750-AFFB-40A4-97E0-88BDAC106F5E",
            "versionEndExcluding": "2026.3",
            "vulnerable": true
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:n-able:n-central:2026.3:-:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "matchCriteriaId": "EB21160B-DDC4-4F70-A703-E313DED8CAF2",
            "vulnerable": true
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:n-able:n-central:2026.3:hotfix1:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "matchCriteriaId": "B28786B6-1DFC-4088-B3CC-C099719EDA17",
            "vulnerable": true
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:n-able:n-central:2026.3:hotfix2:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "matchCriteriaId": "24B69FFD-40FD-4DE2-AC51-A2101AD28EB3",
            "vulnerable": true
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:n-able:n-central:2026.3:hotfix3:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "matchCriteriaId": "BFA703C2-2F80-4FAC-9DA8-EE33A0F0646F",
            "vulnerable": true
          }
        ],
        "negate": false,
        "operator": "OR"
      }
    ]
  }
]

References

Sources include official advisories and independent security research.