CVE-2026-23560 Multiple RBAC issues in XAPI
A vm-admin can exploit missing authorization checks to escalate privileges, read or modify dom0 files, and bypass host management restrictions.
- 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-2026-23560?
CVE-2026-23560 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in Xen XAPI, published on 9 Jul 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
[This CNA information record relates to multiple CVEs; the text explains which aspects/vulnerabilities correspond to which CVE.] XAPI can configure different users with different roles, using Role Based Access Control. For more details, see:
https://docs.xenserver.com/en-us/xencenter/current-release/rbac-overview.html#rbac-roles
The pool-admin role is fully privileged. Notably, users with this role can also SSH into the host as root.
The other administrator roles are pool-operator, vm-power-admin and vm-admin, each of which are authorised to configure and manage various aspects of the system.
Some settings are inadequately restricted, and can be set by a lower privilege of administrator than expected.
* CVE-2026-23559: A vm-admin can set VBD.other_config:backend-local and turn arbitrary files in dom0 into VDIs (virtual disks) and give said disks to a VM they control. This is an arbitrary read and/or modify of files in dom0.
* CVE-2026-23560: A vm-admin can set VM.other-config:is_system_domain and mark a VM as a system domain. System domains are ignored and left running during certain other host/pool operations, and may be hidden from view in tooling.
* CVE-2026-23561: A vm-admin can set VM.other_config:storage_driver_domain and mark a VM as the storage domain for a particular host storage connection (PBD). Shutting down the VM can cause the PBD to be erroneously marked as unplugged when it is not.
* CVE-2026-23562: Configuration of PCI passthrough is normally restricted to the pool-admin role. However one API was missing this check, allowing a vm-admin access to unintended host hardware.
* CVE-2026-42486: A vm-admin can set the VM.platform:hvm_serial parameter, which should be restricted to the pool-admin role, as it can allow arbitrary dom0 file write.
Weakness: CWE-250
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-23560?
How do I fix CVE-2026-23560?
No fix has been published for CVE-2026-23560 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade, and check permissions on every request on the server, not only in the interface. More about Missing authorization.
Is CVE-2026-23560 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-23560 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-3rr8-7v6m-2h7r.