CVE-2026-81823 Overview
CVE-2026-81823 is a missing authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] affecting AVEVA PIMBoards. The flaw allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to perform read operations reserved for authenticated PIMBoards users. Successful exploitation results in information disclosure of data intended to be accessible only to authorized users. Write operations are not affected by this vulnerability.
AVEVA published details in Security Bulletin AVEVA-2026-006. The vulnerability is exploitable over the network without user interaction or privileges. No public proof-of-concept exploit has been observed, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can read PIMBoards user-restricted data over the network, leading to confidentiality loss without any privileges or user interaction.
Affected Products
- AVEVA PIMBoards (see AVEVA Security Bulletin 2026-006 for specific affected versions)
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-09-08 - CVE-2026-81823 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-09-08 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-81823
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a missing authorization check in AVEVA PIMBoards. The application exposes read endpoints that should require authenticated PIMBoards user context but fail to enforce that check. An unauthenticated remote actor can invoke these endpoints and retrieve data intended only for authorized users.
The impact is limited to confidentiality. Integrity and availability are not affected because write operations continue to require proper authorization. The attack requires no privileges, no user interaction, and can be executed over the network.
According to the FIRST Exploit Prediction Scoring System data dated 2026-09-10, the EPSS probability is 0.313% at the 23.9 percentile, indicating low near-term exploitation likelihood at the time of publication.
Root Cause
The root cause is classified as CWE-862: Missing Authorization. The application performs authentication or session checks incorrectly, or omits them entirely, on read paths that expose PIMBoards user data. Access control decisions rely on assumptions that do not hold for unauthenticated request contexts.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network access to the PIMBoards service. An attacker crafts HTTP requests directly to the read endpoints without providing valid credentials or session tokens. The service returns data that should be restricted to PIMBoards users. No exploitation code, tooling, or authentication material is required.
Because realCodeExamples were not provided and no verified proof-of-concept is public, refer to the AVEVA Security Bulletin 2026-006 for vendor-authoritative technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-81823
Indicators of Compromise
- Unauthenticated HTTP requests to PIMBoards read endpoints originating from unexpected source addresses.
- Successful HTTP 200 responses to requests lacking valid session cookies or authentication headers.
- Unusual volumes of read requests targeting PIMBoards data resources from a single client.
Detection Strategies
- Review PIMBoards and upstream web server access logs for read requests missing authenticated session context.
- Correlate requests to PIMBoards read endpoints with authentication events to identify sessions without prior successful login.
- Alert on external network sources accessing PIMBoards endpoints that are intended for internal, authenticated users only.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose access logging on the PIMBoards web tier and forward logs to a centralized analytics platform.
- Baseline normal PIMBoards read traffic patterns and alert on deviations in source geography, user agent, or request rate.
- Monitor egress from the PIMBoards host for unexpected outbound data volumes that could indicate mass extraction.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-81823
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the fixed version identified in AVEVA Security Bulletin 2026-006 as soon as operationally feasible.
- Restrict network access to PIMBoards to authenticated internal users through firewall or VPN controls.
- Audit access logs for evidence of unauthenticated read activity prior to remediation.
Patch Information
AVEVA has issued guidance in Security Bulletin AVEVA-2026-006. Administrators should consult the bulletin for exact fixed versions and upgrade procedures for their PIMBoards deployment. The bulletin is available at the AVEVA cyber security updates portal.
Workarounds
- Place PIMBoards behind a reverse proxy that enforces authentication before requests reach the application.
- Restrict inbound access to PIMBoards to trusted management networks using network ACLs or host firewalls.
- Disable or block affected read endpoints at the perimeter if they are not required for business operations.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.