---
id: "CVE-2026-79855"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-79855"]
title: "AOS-8: SSH daemon authentication bypass grants unauthenticated administrative access"
severity: "critical"
cvss: 9.8
epss: 0.006
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "HPE Aruba AOS-8", "fixed": ["8.13.3.1", "8.10.0.24"], "affected": "<= 8.13.3.0, <= 8.10.0.23", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["aos-8", "aruba", "hpe", "infrastructure", "network-appliances", "ssh", "wireless"]
not_affected_if: ["aos-10-only", "management-interface-not-reachable"]
published_at: "2026-10-22T19:17:57+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:32+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-25T12:38:51+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-79855", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:32+00:00"}, {"source": "analyst", "url": null, "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T22:46:22+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-79855", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-24T07:15:51+00:00"}]
---

# AOS-8: SSH daemon authentication bypass grants unauthenticated administrative access

Unauthenticated SSH daemon authentication bypass in HPE Aruba AOS-8 (CWE-288, CVSS 9.8, AV:N/PR:N). It gives administrative access and full host compromise. It is one of 72 CVEs in bulletin HPESBNW05162, which covers both AOS-8 and AOS-10. HPE credits its internal researchers and says it knew of no public discussion or exploit code at release.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:HPE Aruba AOS-8 affected <= 8.13.3.0, <= 8.10.0.23 fixed 8.13.3.1, 8.10.0.24

## How to check

Run 'show version' on each Mobility Conductor, Mobility Controller and Instant AP. You are affected if AOS-8 is 8.13.3.0 or earlier, or 8.10.0.23 or earlier. Then check whether SSH (TCP/22) on the management interface is reachable from untrusted networks, and review SSH logins in the auth logs for unexpected admin sessions.

## Fix

Upgrade AOS-8 to 8.13.3.1 or 8.10.0.24, depending on your release branch. If you cannot upgrade yet, restrict the CLI and web management interfaces to a dedicated L2 segment or VLAN, apply L3+ firewall controls, and enable accounting. HPE says this does not replace patching. Rotate credentials if you suspect compromise.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T21:57:32+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-79855
- 2026-10-23T22:46:22+00:00 analyst — HPE bulletin HPESBNW05162 (22 Oct 2026) is the primary advisory but its page text did not render for me; versions come from GBHackers' summary of it, so check them against the bulletin. No exploitation or public PoC per HPE at release. I did not search X or Bluesky.
- 2026-10-24T07:15:51+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-79855

## Documents

- [advisory] HPESBNW05162 rev.1 - Multiple Vulnerabilities in HPE Networking Wireless OS (AOS-10 & AOS-8) https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docId=hpesbnw05162en_us&docLocale=en_US
- [describes] GBHackers: Critical HPE Aruba AOS-8 flaw https://gbhackers.com/critical-hpe-aruba-aos-8-flaw/
- [mitigation] HPE patches eight max severity RCE and auth bypass AOS flaws https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hpe-patches-eight-max-severity-rce-and-auth-bypass-aos-flaws/

## From the sources

An authentication bypass vulnerability in the SSH daemon of AOS-8 allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to circumvent existing authentication controls. Successful exploitation allows an attacker to gain administrative privileges leading to complete compromise of the AOS-8 host.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_