--- id: "CVE-2026-86218" kind: "vulnerability" aliases: ["CVE-2026-86218"] title: "n-able n-central: N-central is vulnerable to a pre-auth remote code execution This issue affects N-central: before 2026.3.1.14" severity: "critical" cvss: 10.0 epss: null exploited: true status: "open" category: "vendor" products: [{"name": "N-able N-central", "fixed": ["2026.3.1.14", "2026.4.0.27"], "affected": "< 2026.3.1.14", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "n-able n-central", "fixed": ["2026.3"], "affected": "< 2026.3", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "n-able n-central", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 2026.3", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "N-able N-central", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}] ecosystems: ["vendor"] tags: ["exploited", "msp", "n-able", "n-central", "rmm", "self-hosted", "vendor"] not_affected_if: ["managed-hosting"] published_at: "2026-09-06T03:17:17+00:00" first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00" updated_at: "2026-10-24T00:09:50+00:00" sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2026-86218", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00"}, {"source": "analyst", "url": null, "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:30:45+00:00"}, {"source": "analyst", "url": null, "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T22:31:40+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-86218", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T23:44:52+00:00"}] --- # n-able n-central: N-central is vulnerable to a pre-auth remote code execution This issue affects N-central: before 2026.3.1.14 N-able N-central, a remote monitoring and management server used by managed service providers, has a static code injection flaw. Per the sources an unauthenticated attacker can trigger remote code execution, and CISA lists it as actively exploited. _Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._ ## Affected - vendor:N-able N-central affected < 2026.3.1.14 fixed 2026.3.1.14, 2026.4.0.27 - vendor:n-able n-central affected < 2026.3 fixed 2026.3 - vendor:n-able n-central affected = 2026.3 fixed ? - vendor:N-able N-central affected ? fixed ? ## How to check Self-hosted: sign in to N-central and open Help > Version Information; anything older than build 2026.3.1.14 (2026.3 base, HF1-HF3, or earlier) is exposed. As a System/Product Administrator you can also see it under System Settings > N-central Server > Version Management. Hosted N-central (NCOD) is patched by N-able. Vendor pages do not name specific exposed interfaces; treat any internet-reachable N-central web interface as in scope (Shadowserver counted 218 unpatched instances on 2026-09-12). ## Fix Upgrade self-hosted N-central to 2026.3 HF4 (2026.3.1.14) or 2026.4.0.27 (direct upgrade from 2025.4, 2026.1-2026.3 and hotfixes). No workaround is documented by N-able. Per CISA, also do forensic triage for compromise before the patch, and stop using the product if mitigations are unavailable. ## Timeline - 2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2026-86218 - 2026-10-23T21:30:45+00:00 analyst — Read N-able HF4 release notes and status post, 2026.4 notes, Cyber Centre AV26-885, THN. Affected floor unknown (only 'prior to 2026.3.1.14'). Exploitation conflict: N-able notes say unconfirmed, Cyber Centre/KEV say exploited; kept true per KEV. Related CVE-2026-86206/86207 (auth bypass, fixed in HF3). Did not search X beyond the two Shadowserver posts already linked. No PoC link found. - 2026-10-23T22:31:40+00:00 analyst — Return visit: nothing new in sources. Triage had blanked how_to_check; restored it from N-able docs (Help > Version Information, Version Management). Vendor pages name no exposed interfaces; no workaround documented. - 2026-10-23T23:44:52+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-86218 ## Documents - [advisory] N-central 2026.3 HF4 Release Notes https://documentation.n-able.com/N-central/Release_Notes/GA/Content/N-central_2026.3_HF4_Release_Notes.htm - [advisory] N-central 2026.3 Hotfix 4 – CVE-2026-86218 https://status.n-able.com/2026/09/06/n-central-2026-3-hotfix-4-cve-2026-86218/ - [describes] Cyber Centre AV26-885 https://www.cyber.gc.ca/en/alerts-advisories/n-able-security-advisory-av26-885 - [describes] The Hacker News: N-central pre-auth RCE https://thehackernews.com/2026/09/n-able-n-central-pre-auth-rce-flaw.html - [discussion] @Shadowserver: IP data in Vulnerable HTTP reporting tagged 'cve-2026-86218': https://t.co/qxv0G https://x.com/Shadowserver/status/2098849487775031340 - [discussion] @Shadowserver: Still 218 instances of N-able N-central seen unpatched to CVE-2026-86218 pre-au https://x.com/Shadowserver/status/2098849484767682931 - [fix] N-central 2026.4 Release Notes https://documentation.n-able.com/N-central/Release_Notes/GA/Content/N-central_2026.4_Release_Notes.htm - [mitigation] N-central Help Menu (Version Information) https://documentation.n-able.com/N-central/userguide/Content/Introduction-GettingStarted/Help_Menu.htm ## From the sources N-able N-central contains a static code injection vulnerability that could allow for pre-authentication remote code execution. CISA 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. --- _Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_