CVE-2026-1814: Rapid7 Nexpose Security Vulnerability

CVE-2026-1814 Overview

A security vulnerability has been identified in Rapid7 Nexpose involving insufficient entropy (CWE-331). This cryptographic weakness could allow an attacker with local access and high privileges to exploit predictable random number generation, potentially leading to confidentiality breaches affecting both the vulnerable system and subsequent systems in the security chain. Remediation is currently in progress by the vendor.

Critical Impact

This insufficient entropy vulnerability in Rapid7 Nexpose could enable attackers with elevated local access to predict cryptographic values, potentially compromising sensitive data confidentiality across connected systems.

Affected Products

• Rapid7 Nexpose (specific versions not yet disclosed)

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-03 - CVE-2026-1814 published to NVD
• 2026-02-05 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-1814

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from insufficient entropy in Rapid7 Nexpose's random number generation mechanisms. Insufficient entropy (CWE-331) occurs when a system fails to incorporate adequate randomness into cryptographic operations, making generated values more predictable than intended.

The attack requires local access to the vulnerable system along with high-level privileges. While the attack complexity is considered high, successful exploitation could result in significant confidentiality impact to both the vulnerable system and subsequent systems that rely on the compromised cryptographic values. No integrity or availability impacts have been identified.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2026-1814 lies in insufficient entropy being used during random number generation within the Rapid7 Nexpose application. When cryptographic operations rely on predictable or low-entropy sources, the resulting values lack the randomness necessary to resist cryptanalysis, potentially allowing attackers to predict tokens, keys, or other security-critical values.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability requires local access to the affected system. An attacker would need to:

1. Obtain local access to a system running vulnerable Rapid7 Nexpose
2. Possess high-level privileges on the target system
3. Analyze the entropy sources and random number generation patterns
4. Exploit the predictability to compromise cryptographic operations

The local access requirement and high privilege prerequisites limit the attack surface, though successful exploitation could cascade to affect downstream systems relying on the vulnerable component's cryptographic outputs. For additional technical details, see the Atredis Security Disclosure.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-1814

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual access patterns to cryptographic key stores or random number generation functions within Nexpose
• Evidence of local privilege escalation attempts targeting the Nexpose service
• Anomalous queries or data extraction activities following privileged local access

Detection Strategies

• Monitor local authentication events and privilege usage on systems running Rapid7 Nexpose
• Implement file integrity monitoring on Nexpose configuration and cryptographic material directories
• Review audit logs for suspicious local access patterns by highly privileged accounts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for Rapid7 Nexpose security-related operations
• Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor process behaviors on Nexpose hosts
• Establish baseline activity patterns for privileged users interacting with Nexpose systems

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-1814

Immediate Actions Required

• Review and restrict local access to systems running Rapid7 Nexpose
• Audit privileged accounts with access to Nexpose installations
• Monitor for vendor security advisories and prepare for patch deployment
• Consider network segmentation to limit exposure of Nexpose systems

Patch Information

Rapid7 has indicated that remediation is in progress. Organizations should monitor the Atredis Security Disclosure page and Rapid7's official security advisories for patch availability and installation guidance. Apply vendor-provided patches as soon as they become available.

Workarounds

• Implement strict access controls to limit local system access to essential personnel only
• Enforce multi-factor authentication for privileged account access
• Deploy additional monitoring and alerting for systems running Rapid7 Nexpose
• Consider temporary isolation of vulnerable Nexpose installations until patches are available

# Configuration example - Restrict local access permissions
# Review and harden Nexpose service account permissions
# Consult Rapid7 documentation for specific hardening guidelines
chmod 700 /opt/rapid7/nexpose/nsc
chown nexpose:nexpose /opt/rapid7/nexpose/nsc