CVE-2026-18796 QSPI flash encryption side-channel leakage
Attackers can exploit side-channel leakage in QSPI flash encryption to compromise confidentiality and integrity of externally stored code on nRF5340 devices.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2026-18796?
CVE-2026-18796 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Nordic Semiconductor ASA nRF5340, published on 7 Sep 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
Any application that uses external QSPI flash for encrypted XIP on nRF5340 and relies on that encryption for confidentiality and/or integrity of the externally stored code. No specific nRF Connect SDK version is the root cause; the weakness is in the on-the-fly decryption scheme.
Weakness: CWE-1342
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-18796?
How do I fix CVE-2026-18796?
No fix has been published for CVE-2026-18796 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Is CVE-2026-18796 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-18796 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-q9vx-6fw9-4mv8.