CVE-2026-59309Network attack vector

Unauthenticated system access

Published Jul 30, 2026 · Updated Jul 30, 2026

Authentication bypass in affected VMware vCenter Server releases allows remote attackers to gain unauthorized system access. VMware identifies the locus as VMware Directory Service but has not disclosed the erroneous authentication operation or attacker-controlled input. Network access to vCenter is sufficient; no credentials or user interaction are required, and exploitation permits unauthorized access affecting system data and operation.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability7.94%
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 affected VMware vCenter Server releases allows remote attackers to gain unauthorized system access. VMware identifies the locus as VMware Directory Service but has not disclosed the erroneous authentication operation or attacker-controlled input. Network access to vCenter is sufficient; no credentials or user interaction are required, and exploitation permits unauthorized access affecting system data and operation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-59309
Published
Jul 30, 2026
Updated
Jul 30, 2026
Vendor
VMware
Product
VMware vCenter Server
Classifications
CWE-303, T1210
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 30, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 30, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=8.0 <8.0 U3k
  2. Affected versionversion=9.0.x.x <9.0.2.0100
  3. Affected versionversion=9.1.x.x <9.1.0.0300

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

VMware · VMware vCenter Serverversion=8.0 <8.0 U3k; version=9.0.x.x <9.0.2.0100; version=9.1.x.x <9.1.0.0300
VMware · VMware Telco Cloud Platformversion=3.0; version=4.x; version=5.0.x; version=5.1.x
VMware · VMware Telco Cloud Infrastructureversion=3.0
VMware · VMware Cloud Foundationversion=5.x; version=9.0.x.x; version=9.1.x.x
VMware · VMware vSphere Foundationversion=9.0.x.x; version=9.1.x.x

Published CVSS scores

9.8VMwareCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-303Incorrect Implementation of Authentication Algorithm
T1210Exploitation of Remote Services

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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