CVE-2026-8169Network attack vector

Root escalation via predictable debug-mode challenge

Published Jul 20, 2026 · Updated Jul 20, 2026

Privilege escalation in Extreme Networks Switch Engine allows remote authenticated users or local users to gain root-level access. The debug-mode authorization path generates its challenge from an insufficiently random source, making the expected response predictable under certain conditions. Remote exploitation requires a valid low-privilege device account, while local exploitation requires physical serial-console access; successful activation permits persistent modification of the device software stack.

CVSS severity8.7
High
EPSS probability0.38%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in Extreme Networks Switch Engine allows remote authenticated users or local users to gain root-level access. The debug-mode authorization path generates its challenge from an insufficiently random source, making the expected response predictable under certain conditions. Remote exploitation requires a valid low-privilege device account, while local exploitation requires physical serial-console access; successful activation permits persistent modification of the device software stack.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-8169
Published
Jul 20, 2026
Updated
Jul 20, 2026
Vendor
Extreme Networks
Product
Switch Engine
Classifications
CWE-338, T1068
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 20, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <31.7.4
  2. Affected versionversion=32.0.0 <32.7.4.15
  3. Affected versionversion=33.0.0 <33.1.100
  4. Affected versionversion=33.2.0 <33.7.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Extreme Networks · Switch Engineversion=0 <31.7.4; version=32.0.0 <32.7.4.15; version=33.0.0 <33.1.100; version=33.2.0 <33.7.1

Published CVSS scores

8.7ExtremeNetworksCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA: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-338Use of Cryptographically Weak Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG)
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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