The vulnerability CVE-2026-33542 could compromise system integrity but typically requires user interaction to be exploited.
Status: Analyzed
Last updated: 🕡 30 Mar 2026, 18:48 UTC
Originally published on: 🕚 26 Mar 2026, 23:16 UTC
Time between publication and last update: 3 days
CVSS Release: version 3
nvd@nist.gov
Primary
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
CVE-2026-33542: Incus is a system container and virtual machine manager. Prior to version 6.23.0, a lack of validation of the image fingerprint when downloading from simplestreams image servers opens the door to image cache poisoning and under very narrow circumstances exposes other tenants to running attacker controlled images rather than the expected one. Version 6.23.0 patches the issue.
The exploitability of CVE-2026-33542 depends on two key factors: attack complexity (the level of effort required to execute an exploit) and privileges required (the access level an attacker needs).
CVE-2026-33542 presents a challenge to exploit due to its high attack complexity, but the absence of privilege requirements still makes it a viable target for skilled attackers. A thorough security review is advised.
A lower complexity and fewer privilege requirements make exploitation easier. Security teams should evaluate these aspects to determine the urgency of mitigation strategies, such as patch management and access control policies.
Attack Complexity (AC) measures the difficulty in executing an exploit. A high AC means that specific conditions must be met, making an attack more challenging, while a low AC means the vulnerability can be exploited with minimal effort.
Privileges Required (PR) determine the level of system access necessary for an attack. Vulnerabilities requiring no privileges are more accessible to attackers, whereas high privilege requirements limit exploitation to authorized users with elevated access.
Above is the CVSS Sub-score Breakdown for CVE-2026-33542, illustrating how Base, Impact, and Exploitability factors combine to form the overall severity rating. A higher sub-score typically indicates a more severe or easier-to-exploit vulnerability.
Below is the Impact Analysis for CVE-2026-33542, showing how Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability might be affected if the vulnerability is exploited. Higher values usually signal greater potential damage.
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