PX4 Autopilot Missing authentication for critical function

Summary

CVECVE-2026-1579
StatePUBLISHED
Assignericscert
Source PriorityCVE Program / NVD first with legacy fallback
Published2026-03-31 21:16:27 UTC
Updated2026-04-01 14:23:37 UTC
DescriptionThe MAVLink communication protocol does not require cryptographic authentication by default. When MAVLink 2.0 message signing is not enabled, any message -- including SERIAL_CONTROL, which provides interactive shell access -- can be sent by an unauthenticated party with access to the MAVLink interface. PX4 provides MAVLink 2.0 message signing as the cryptographic authentication mechanism for all MAVLink communication. When signing is enabled, unsigned messages are rejected at the protocol level.

Risk And Classification

Primary CVSS: v4.0 9.3 CRITICAL from [email protected]

CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X

EPSS: 0.000730000 probability, percentile 0.222060000 (date 2026-04-02)

Problem Types: CWE-306 | CWE-306 CWE-306


VersionSourceTypeScoreSeverityVector
4.0[email protected]Secondary9.3CRITICALCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/C...
4.0CNACVSS9.3CRITICALCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
3.1[email protected]Secondary9.8CRITICALCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
3.1CNACVSS9.8CRITICALCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS v4.0 Breakdown

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Requirements
None
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Sub Conf.
None
Sub Integrity
None
Sub Availability
None

CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X

CVSS v3.1 Breakdown

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Vendor Declared Affected Products

SourceVendorProductVersionPlatforms
CNA PX4 Autopilot affected v1.16.0 SITL Not specified

References

ReferenceSourceLinkTags
docs.px4.io/main/en/mavlink/security_hardening [email protected] docs.px4.io
www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-26-090-02 [email protected] www.cisa.gov
github.com/cisagov/CSAF/blob/develop/csaf_files/OT/white/2026/icsa-26-09... [email protected] github.com
docs.px4.io/main/en/mavlink/message_signing [email protected] docs.px4.io
CVE Program record CVE.ORG www.cve.org canonical
NVD vulnerability detail NVD nvd.nist.gov canonical, analysis

Vendor Comments And Credit

Discovery Credit

CNA: Dolev Aviv of Cyviation reported this vulnerability to CISA. (en)

Additional Advisory Data

Solutions

CNA: PX4 recommends enabling MAVLink 2.0 message signing as the authentication mechanism for all non‑USB communication links. PX4 has published a security hardening guide for integrators and manufacturers at  https://docs.px4.io/main/en/mavlink/security_hardening Message signing configuration documentation can be found at  https://docs.px4.io/main/en/mavlink/message_signing

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