CVE-2026-104018: VxWorks 7 improper privilege management
An improper privilege management vulnerability (CWE-269) exists in the command shell of Wind River VxWorks 7 all versions up to 26.09. when configured to enforce per-user command privileges. Under certain shell operations, a command may be evaluated without the privilege check that is normally applied, allowing an authenticated user with limited privileges to execute commands they are not authorized to run. Successful exploitation can result in privilege escalation, with impact to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected device. Fixed in 26.09
Other sources
An improper privilege management vulnerability (CWE-269) exists in the command shell of Wind River VxWorks 7 when configured to enforce per-user command privileges. Under certain shell operations, a command may be evaluated without the privilege check that is normally applied, allowing an authenticated user with limited privileges to execute commands they are not authorized to run. Successful exploitation can result in privilege escalation, with impact to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected device. The issue affects all versions of VxWorks 7 prior to 26.09. It has been fixed in 26.09.
— NVD
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
Wind River VxWorks 7to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 26.09
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
Which deployments are exposed to this issue?
Wind River VxWorks 7 deployments are affected if they are configured to enforce per-user command privileges and run a version before 26.09. The issue is in the command shell.
What access does an attacker need to exploit it?
An attacker must be authenticated as a user with limited privileges. They can exploit certain shell operations to have a command evaluated without the normal privilege check.
Is a default configuration affected?
The provided information identifies exposure only when per-user command privilege enforcement is configured. It does not state whether that setting is enabled by default.
What is the remediation?
Upgrade the affected VxWorks 7 system to version 26.09, which fixes the vulnerability.
How can I assess whether a device is affected?
Check whether the device runs VxWorks 7 before 26.09 and whether its command shell is configured to enforce per-user command privileges. Systems meeting both conditions should be treated as affected.