CVE-2026-11861Network attack vector

Privilege escalation via unchecked PAC certificates

Published Aug 20, 2026 · Updated Aug 20, 2026

Authentication bypass in FreeIPA allows remote authenticated users to access FreeIPA services via TGS client-name impersonation in AD trusts. FreeIPA services that accept trusted Active Directory Kerberos tickets do not verify Privilege Attribute Certificate certificates, allowing an attacker to present a Ticket Granting Service ticket whose client name impersonates another principal. Exploitation requires a configured FreeIPA-Active Directory trust and an authenticated AD account; Red Hat states the attack is further constrained by the need to register a duplicate or conflicting Service Principal Name in the Active Directory forest, but successful abuse can grant portal, SMB, LDAP, and other GSSAPI-backed access in the FreeIPA domain.

CVSS severity9.6
Critical
EPSS probability0.19%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in FreeIPA allows remote authenticated users to access FreeIPA services via TGS client-name impersonation in AD trusts. FreeIPA services that accept trusted Active Directory Kerberos tickets do not verify Privilege Attribute Certificate certificates, allowing an attacker to present a Ticket Granting Service ticket whose client name impersonates another principal. Exploitation requires a configured FreeIPA-Active Directory trust and an authenticated AD account; Red Hat states the attack is further constrained by the need to register a duplicate or conflicting Service Principal Name in the Active Directory forest, but successful abuse can grant portal, SMB, LDAP, and other GSSAPI-backed access in the FreeIPA domain.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-11861
Published
Aug 20, 2026
Updated
Aug 20, 2026
Vendor
389 Directory Server
Product
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
Classifications
CWE-266
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 20, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 20, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected versions are unavailable in this record. Check the vendor advisory for version and patch details.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

389 Directory Server · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10Affected versions are unavailable in this record.
389 Directory Server · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7Affected versions are unavailable in this record.
389 Directory Server · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9Affected versions are unavailable in this record.
389 Directory Server · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8Affected versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.6Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-266Incorrect Privilege Assignment

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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