CVE-2026-84731: Pre-Authentication Admin Bypass and Remote Code Execution in Nutanix Prism Gateway inside AOS
An unauthenticated remote attacker can bypass authentication and gain full access to administrative API endpoints in Nutanix Prism Element by including a crafted internal management HTTP header. The vulnerability is caused by a misconfiguration in the application's authentication filters.
Consequently, the server responds with a Set-Cookie header containing a valid JSESSIONID. This session cookie decodes to a JSON Web Token (JWT) granting maximum cluster administrative privileges. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to execute root-level commands on all Controller VMs (CVMs) in the cluster, leading to complete cluster destruction and unauthorized access to VM memory and virtual disks.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
Nutanix AOSto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.3.1.18 - Upgrade
Upgrade
Nutanix AOSto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.5.2 - Upgrade
Upgrade
Nutanix AOSto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.6.0.8
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an attacker need to exploit this issue?
The attacker only needs network access to the vulnerable Nutanix Prism Element interface. Exploitation is pre-authentication and requires sending a crafted internal management HTTP header; no valid account or user interaction is required.
What level of access could an attacker obtain?
A successful attacker can obtain a JSESSIONID that decodes to a JWT with maximum cluster administrative privileges. They can execute root-level commands across all Controller VMs in the cluster and access VM memory and virtual disks.
How can defenders identify attempted or successful exploitation?
Review Prism Element and relevant HTTP access logs for unauthenticated requests carrying crafted internal management HTTP headers, especially where responses issue a Set-Cookie header containing a JSESSIONID. Investigate JSESSIONID-based sessions that appear without a corresponding legitimate authentication event.
What is the immediate mitigation if patching cannot be performed?
Restrict network access to the Prism Element interface so untrusted or unauthenticated remote systems cannot reach it. The provided information does not specify a configuration workaround that removes the vulnerable authentication-filter behavior.