CVE-2026-59309: Software Security Vulnerability Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-fcv2-9hgc-5mgq
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-303
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-59309 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) security vulnerability vulnerability (CWE-303: Incorrect Implementation of Authentication Algorithm) affecting Software libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The weakness occurs when the requirements for the product dictate the use of an established authentication algorithm, but the implementation of the algorithm is incorrect.. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2026-59309 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-59309
GHSA Identifier GHSA-fcv2-9hgc-5mgq
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-303: Incorrect Implementation of Authentication Algorithm
Affected Product Software
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2026-59309

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Software dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2026-59309, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Software in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-303: Incorrect Implementation of Authentication Algorithm, where the requirements for the product dictate the use of an established authentication algorithm, but the implementation of the algorithm is incorrect. In Software, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

VMware vCenter contains an authentication bypass vulnerability in the VMware Directory Service. A malicious actor with network access to vCenter may exploit this issue to bypass authentication and gain unauthorized access to the system.

References

NVD — CVE-2026-59309 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-59309
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://support.broadcom.com/web/ecx/support-content-notification/-/external/content/SecurityAdvisories/0/38017

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-59309?
CVE-2026-59309 is a security vulnerability in Software classified as a security vulnerability vulnerability under CWE-303: Incorrect Implementation of Authentication Algorithm.
Which Software versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches.
What version fixes CVE-2026-59309?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-59309?
CVE-2026-59309 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-59309?
CVE-2026-59309 is classified under CWE-303: Incorrect Implementation of Authentication Algorithm (The requirements for the product dictate the use of an established authentication algorithm, but the implementation of the algorithm is incorrect.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2026-59309?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-fcv2-9hgc-5mgq",
  "modified" : "2026-07-30T15:31:50Z",
  "published" : "2026-07-30T15:31:50Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-59309" ],
  "details" : "VMware vCenter contains an authentication bypass vulnerability in the VMware Directory Service. A malicious actor with network access to vCenter may exploit this issue to bypass authentication and gain unauthorized access to the system.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-59309"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://support.broadcom.com/web/ecx/support-content-notification/-/external/content/SecurityAdvisories/0/38017"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-303" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : false,
    "github_reviewed_at" : null,
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-07-30T13:16:53Z"
  }
}