CVE-2026-92928 Overview
CVE-2026-92928 identifies a hardcoded credential vulnerability in OpenEye Apex Network Video Recorder (NVR) firmware version 3.2.9.376. The firmware ships with an undocumented recovery account that uses a shared credential that cannot be changed, disabled, or rotated by administrators. An unauthenticated remote attacker can use this account to authenticate to the password-reset workflow over the network. The account does not grant direct administrator access, but it materially weakens the authentication boundary and can be chained with other flaws to achieve administrator takeover. The design has been present in Apex NVR firmware since at least version 2.2.3.4, expanding the population of exposed devices across long-lived video surveillance deployments.
Critical Impact
Remote, unauthenticated access to the password-reset workflow of internet-reachable OpenEye Apex NVR devices, enabling chained attacks toward full administrator takeover.
Affected Products
- OpenEye Apex NVR firmware 3.2.9.376
- OpenEye Apex NVR firmware 2.2.3.4 through 3.2.9.376
- Fixed in OpenEye Apex NVR firmware 3.5.4
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-09-23 - CVE-2026-92928 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-09-23 - CVE-2026-92928 last modified in NVD
Technical Details for CVE-2026-92928
Vulnerability Analysis
The flaw is a use of hardcoded credentials [CWE-798] inside the Apex NVR firmware. OpenEye embedded a shared recovery account with a static credential in the firmware image. Because the credential is baked into the build, operators cannot rotate or disable it through standard device configuration. The account is reachable over the network and accepts unauthenticated callers into the password-reset workflow. The vulnerability by itself does not yield administrator privileges. It does, however, remove the initial authentication barrier that would normally gate account recovery functionality, converting any exposed Apex NVR into a foothold candidate.
Root Cause
The root cause is a design decision to ship a shared, immutable recovery credential across the entire Apex NVR product line. Hardcoding secrets in firmware violates the principle that authentication material must be per-device and operator-controlled. Because the account is undocumented, defenders had no visibility into its existence and could not apply compensating controls. The credential persists across firmware upgrades in the vulnerable range, so devices patched only within the 2.x or 3.2.x branches remain exposed.
Attack Vector
An attacker reaches the NVR management interface over the network and submits the recovery account credential to the password-reset endpoint. No user interaction and no prior privileges are required. Successful authentication places the attacker inside the reset workflow. From there, the attacker must chain a separate vulnerability to escalate into administrator access, which OpenEye has acknowledged is possible against unpatched firmware.
No public proof-of-concept code is available. See the OpenEye Issue Alert #1058 and the Securifera Security Advisory for the vendor and researcher writeups.
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Stop Identity AttacksDetection Methods for CVE-2026-92928
Indicators of Compromise
- Authentication events against the Apex NVR password-reset workflow originating from unexpected or external IP addresses.
- Password change or reset events for administrator accounts on Apex NVR devices that do not correlate with authorized change tickets.
- New or modified local accounts on Apex NVR appliances following reset-workflow activity.
- Configuration exports, firmware version queries, or video stream access shortly after recovery-account authentication.
Detection Strategies
- Inventory all Apex NVR devices and record firmware versions to identify systems in the vulnerable range 2.2.3.4 through 3.2.9.376.
- Alert on any HTTP or HTTPS request path associated with the password-reset workflow when the source is outside the management VLAN.
- Correlate NVR authentication logs with network flow data to identify recovery-workflow access from untrusted segments.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward Apex NVR authentication and administrative logs to a central SIEM for retention and correlation.
- Baseline normal administrator activity windows and alert on off-hours password-reset attempts.
- Monitor egress from NVR devices for outbound connections that could indicate post-exploitation command and control.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-92928
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade all OpenEye Apex NVR devices to firmware version 3.5.4 or later, which removes the hardcoded recovery account.
- Remove Apex NVR management interfaces from direct internet exposure and place them behind a VPN or jump host.
- Restrict management access to a dedicated administrative VLAN with explicit allow-lists.
- Audit administrator and local accounts on every Apex NVR for unexpected additions or password changes.
Patch Information
OpenEye has released firmware version 3.5.4, which eliminates the hardcoded recovery credential. Refer to the OpenEye Issue Alert #1058 for vendor upgrade guidance and to the Securifera Security Advisory for technical background.
Workarounds
- Block network reachability to the NVR management and password-reset endpoints from all untrusted networks until patching completes.
- Enforce firewall rules that permit administrative access only from known operator workstations.
- Increase monitoring frequency on Apex NVR authentication logs during the patch window.
# Example: restrict Apex NVR management access to a trusted subnet
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -s 10.20.30.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
