CVE-2026-24204: NVIDIA Flare SDK Path Traversal Flaw

CVE-2026-24204 Overview

NVIDIA Flare SDK contains an improper input validation vulnerability that allows an attacker to perform path traversal attacks. This vulnerability exists due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input when processing file paths, enabling attackers to traverse outside of intended directories. A successful exploit of this vulnerability may lead to information disclosure, potentially exposing sensitive files and configuration data on affected systems.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers can exploit path traversal to read arbitrary files on systems running vulnerable NVIDIA Flare SDK versions, potentially accessing sensitive configuration files, credentials, or proprietary data.

Affected Products

• NVIDIA Flare SDK (specific versions unconfirmed - consult NVIDIA advisory)

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-04-28 - CVE-2026-24204 published to NVD
• 2026-04-28 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-24204

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from improper input validation (CWE-20) within the NVIDIA Flare SDK. The SDK fails to properly sanitize user-supplied file path inputs, allowing attackers to inject path traversal sequences such as ../ to escape intended directory boundaries. The attack requires network access and low-privilege authentication, making it accessible to any authenticated user of the affected system.

The vulnerability specifically enables information disclosure through unauthorized file reads. While the attack does not allow modification or deletion of files (integrity remains unaffected), the confidentiality impact is high, meaning attackers can potentially access any file readable by the application process. This could include configuration files, environment variables, API keys, database connection strings, or other sensitive data stored on the system.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper input validation when handling file path parameters. The NVIDIA Flare SDK does not adequately sanitize or validate user-supplied paths, failing to neutralize directory traversal sequences before processing file operations. This allows malicious path components to bypass intended access restrictions.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploitable over the network by authenticated users. An attacker with valid credentials can craft malicious requests containing path traversal sequences (e.g., ../../../etc/passwd on Linux systems or ..\..\..\windows\system32\config on Windows) to read files outside the intended directory scope.

The attack workflow involves:

1. Authenticating to the NVIDIA Flare SDK with valid credentials
2. Identifying input parameters that accept file paths
3. Injecting path traversal sequences to navigate to sensitive files
4. Extracting confidential information from the response

For detailed technical information, refer to the NVIDIA Support Article.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-24204

Indicators of Compromise

• Log entries showing file access attempts with ../ or ..\ sequences in request parameters
• Unusual file read operations targeting system configuration files or directories outside normal application scope
• Access patterns from authenticated users attempting to read sensitive files like /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, or Windows system files
• Network traffic containing encoded path traversal sequences (e.g., %2e%2e%2f, %2e%2e/, ..%2f)

Detection Strategies

• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block path traversal patterns in HTTP requests
• Configure SIEM rules to alert on file access operations containing directory traversal indicators
• Monitor application logs for requests with abnormal file path patterns or repeated authentication followed by sensitive file access attempts
• Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to identify anomalous file read behaviors

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for all file access operations within the NVIDIA Flare SDK
• Monitor for failed file access attempts that may indicate reconnaissance activity
• Track authenticated user sessions for unusual file access patterns
• Implement real-time alerting for any access attempts to sensitive system directories

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-24204

Immediate Actions Required

• Review the NVIDIA Support Article for official patch information and update to the latest secure version
• Audit access logs for evidence of exploitation attempts or unauthorized file access
• Restrict network access to NVIDIA Flare SDK interfaces to trusted users only
• Implement additional input validation at the network perimeter using WAF rules

Patch Information

NVIDIA has published a security advisory addressing this vulnerability. Organizations should consult the NVIDIA Support Article for specific patch details, affected version information, and upgrade instructions. Apply the vendor-provided security update as soon as possible to remediate this vulnerability.

Workarounds

• Implement network segmentation to limit access to systems running NVIDIA Flare SDK to only authorized users and networks
• Deploy application-layer firewalls with rules to detect and block path traversal attempts
• Apply the principle of least privilege to the service account running the NVIDIA Flare SDK, limiting file system access
• Consider temporary service isolation if immediate patching is not feasible while awaiting a maintenance window