Detections
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VMware vCenter Server 8.0 < 8.0 U3k / 9.0.x < 9.0.2.0100 / 9.1.x < 9.1.0.0200 Authentication Bypass (VMSA-2026-0006)

critical Nessus Plugin ID 337684

Synopsis

The VMware vCenter Server installed on the remote host is affected by an authentication bypass vulnerability.

Description

The version of VMware vCenter Server installed on the remote host is 8.0 prior to 8.0 Update 3k, or 9.0.x prior to 9.0.2.0100, or 9.1.x prior to 9.1.0.0200. It is, therefore, affected by a vulnerability as referenced in the VMSA-2026-0006.1 advisory:

 - VMware vCenter contains an authentication bypass vulnerability in the VMware Directory Service. A malicious actor with network access to vCenter may exploit this issue to bypass authentication and gain unauthorized access to the system. (CVE-2026-59309)

Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

Solution

Upgrade to VMware vCenter Server 8.0 Update 3k, 8.0 Update 2f, 9.0.2.0100, or 9.1.0.0200 or later.

See Also

http://www.nessus.org/u?32b9f35d

Plugin Details

Severity: Critical

ID: 337684

File Name: vmware_vcenter_server_VMSA-2026-0006_CVE-2026-59309.nasl

Version: 1.1

Type: Remote

Family: Misc.

Published: 8/18/2026

Updated: 8/18/2026

Supported Sensors: Nessus

Risk Information

VPR

Risk Factor: High

Score: 8.9

Percentile: 99.71

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: Critical

Base Score: 10

Vector: CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

CVSS Score Source: CVE-2026-59309

CVSS v3

Risk Factor: Critical

Base Score: 9.8

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Vulnerability Information

CPE: cpe:/a:vmware:vcenter_server

Required KB Items: installed_sw/VMware vCenter Server

Patch Publication Date: 7/29/2026

Vulnerability Publication Date: 7/29/2026

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2026-59309

VMSA: 2026-0006