CVE-2026-33389: Disabled and non-configurable certificate/host key validation in Smart Polling in Guardian/CMC before 26.3.0 and Arc before v2.7.0
An improper certificate/host key validation vulnerability was discovered in the Smart Polling functionality, which established encrypted connections to target devices without validating the remote host's identity, and no option was provided to enable it. A man-in-the-middle attacker positioned between a sensor and a polled device can, during a polling session, impersonate the device and intercept the communication, including the credentials used to access it. The captured credentials can then be replayed to authenticate against the device itself or against other devices sharing the same credentials, allowing the attacker to access and tamper with the device's data and to disrupt its operations.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
Arcto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in v2.7.0 - Upgrade
Upgrade
Guardian/CMCto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in v26.3.0
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
Can certificate or host key validation be enabled as a workaround in affected releases?
No. Smart Polling in the affected releases did not provide an option to enable validation of the remote host identity.
What access does an attacker need to exploit this issue?
The attacker must be positioned between a sensor and the device being polled during a polling session, allowing them to perform a man-in-the-middle attack. No prior privileges are required, but user interaction is involved.
What is the impact if polling credentials are intercepted?
Captured credentials can be replayed against the polled device or other devices that share those credentials. This can allow an attacker to access and alter device data and disrupt device operations.
Which versions require remediation?
Guardian/CMC releases before 26.3.0 and Arc releases before v2.7.0 are affected when using Smart Polling.