Cyber Resilience

CVE-2026-32606

Exposed Creds

Published
18 March 2026
Modified
18 March 2026
CVSS Score v3.1 7.6
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0014 4th percentile
Risk Priority 51 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2026-32606 is a high-severity Insufficiently Protected Credentials (CWE-522) vulnerability. Its CVSS base score is 7.6 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Unsecured Credentials (T1552); ranked at the 4th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

This vulnerability is AI-related — categorised as Other Platforms; in the Supply Chain and Deployment risk domain.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SC-28 (Protection of Information at Rest) and SC-8 (Transmission Confidentiality and Integrity) — see the control section below for these in your framework.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

CVE-2026-32606 is a vulnerability in the default configuration of systemd-cryptenroll as used by IncusOS, an immutable OS image dedicated to running Incus, affecting versions prior to 202603142010 (released 2026/03/14 20:10 UTC). The issue enables bypassing full-disk LUKS encryption via TPM unsealing without requiring owner interaction, Secure Boot tampering, or kernel (UKI) boot image modification. It stems from the TPM releasing the LUKS key based on expected PCR7 values and a PCR11 policy that permits unsealing by the fully booted system, rather than restricting it to the initrd within the signed UKI. The initrd's reliance on GPT partition identifiers for root disk selection facilitates partition substitution.

An attacker with physical access to a powered-off machine can exploit this by replacing the original encrypted root partition with a malicious one containing a custom recovery key and a systemd unit that activates on boot. Upon providing the recovery key, the system boots the attacker's root filesystem using the original bootloader and UKI, preserving PCR measurements and TPM state. The systemd unit then retrieves the LUKS volume key (immutable master key) from the TPM in this trusted boot environment, allowing the attacker to decrypt, read, modify, or exfiltrate data from the real root disk before restoring the original partition undetected. The CVSS v3.1 score is 7.6 (AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H), linked to CWE-522 (Insufficiently Protected Credentials).

Advisories recommend updating to IncusOS version 202603142010 or later, which introduces PCR15 logic to automatically update the TPM policy on boot and rebind LUKS keys to the new TPM register set, preventing exploitation. There are no other workarounds. Systems potentially compromised via physical access while shut down require a full wipe and reinstallation to rotate the LUKS volume key and block future access. Relevant resources include the IncusOS GitHub security advisory (GHSA-wj2j-qwcf-cfcc), commit e3b35f230d23443d27752eac27ebb2b22c957b75, and pull request #954.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

IncusOS is an immutable OS image dedicated to running Incus. Prior to 202603142010, the default configuration of systemd-cryptenroll as used by IncusOS through mkosi allows for an attacker with physical access to the machine to access the encrypted data without…

more

requiring any interaction by the system's owner or any tampering of Secure Boot state or kernel (UKI) boot image. That's because in this configuration, the LUKS key is made available by the TPM so long as the system has the expected PCR7 value and the PCR11 policy matches. That default PCR11 policy importantly allows for the TPM to release the key to the booted system rather than just from the initrd part of the signed kernel image (UKI). The attack relies on the attacker being able to substitute the original encrypted root partition for one that they control. By doing so, the system will prompt for a recovery key on boot, which the attacker has defined and can provide, before booting the system using the attacker's root partition rather than the system's original one. The attacker only needs to put a systemd unit starting on system boot within their root partition to have the system run that logic on boot. That unit will then run in an environment where the TPM will allow for the retrieval of the encryption key of the real root disk, allowing the attacker to steal the LUKS volume key (immutable master key) and then use it against the real root disk, altering it or getting data out before putting the disk back the way it was and returning the system without a trace of this attack having happened. This is all possible because the system will have still booted with Secure Boot enabled, will have measured and ran the expected bootloader and kernel image (UKI). The initrd selects the root disk based on GPT partition identifiers making it possible to easily substitute the real root disk for an attacker controlled one. This doesn't lead to any change in the TPM state and therefore allows for retrieval of the LUKS key by the attacker through a boot time systemd unit on their alternative root partition. IncusOS version 202603142010 (2026/03/14 20:10 UTC) includes the new PCR15 logic and will automatically update the TPM policy on boot. Anyone suspecting that their system may have been physically accessed while shut down should perform a full system wipe and reinstallation as only that will rotate the LUKS volume key and prevent subsequent access to the encrypted data should the system have been previously compromised. There are no known workarounds other than updating to a version with corrected logic which will automatically rebind the LUKS keys to the new set of TPM registers and prevent this from being exploited.

CWE(s)

AI Security AnalysisAI

AI Category
Other Platforms
Risk Domain
Supply Chain and Deployment
OWASP Top 10 for LLMs 2025
None mapped
Classification Reason
Matched keywords: gpt

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1552 Unsecured Credentials Credential Access
Adversaries may search compromised systems to find and obtain insecurely stored credentials.
T1552.001 Credentials In Files Credential Access
Adversaries may search local file systems and remote file shares for files containing insecurely stored credentials.
T1021 Remote Services Lateral Movement
Adversaries may use [Valid Accounts](https://attack.
T1078 Valid Accounts Stealth
Adversaries may obtain and abuse credentials of existing accounts as a means of gaining Initial Access, Persistence, Privilege Escalation, or Defense Evasion.
T1114.002 Remote Email Collection Collection
Adversaries may target an Exchange server, Office 365, or Google Workspace to collect sensitive information.
T1550.003 Pass the Ticket Lateral Movement
Adversaries may “pass the ticket” using stolen Kerberos tickets to move laterally within an environment, bypassing normal system access controls.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2025-54428Shared CWE-522
CVE-2024-34887Shared CWE-522
CVE-2025-13163Shared CWE-522
CVE-2025-62327Shared CWE-522
CVE-2026-9395Shared CWE-522
CVE-2026-6253Shared CWE-522
CVE-2026-31926Shared CWE-522
CVE-2024-51545Shared CWE-522
CVE-2023-38548Shared CWE-522
CVE-2023-33263Shared CWE-522

Affected Assets

IncusOS
inferred from references and description; NVD did not file a CPE for this CVE

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)
  • 1 hardening rule · 1 OS baseline
Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V11.3.3

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

Protection of information at rest requires encryption or equivalent safeguards for stored credentials.

Transmission confidentiality and integrity enforcement stops credentials from being sent in plaintext or without protection.

Authenticator management requires secure generation, storage, and distribution of credentials, directly stopping insecure methods.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.DS-01 full match
prevents

Encrypting data-at-rest fully prevents insecure credential storage while only partially satisfying the broader data-protection outcome.

PR.DS-02 full match
prevents

Encrypting data-in-transit fully prevents interception of credentials in motion while only partially satisfying the broader data-protection outcome.

PR.AA-01 mostly match
prevents

Credential management practices directly reduce insecure storage/transmission but do not guarantee encryption or transport protection.

PR.AA-04 mostly match
prevents

Protecting identity assertions covers conveyance of credentials but is narrower than full credential lifecycle protection.

PR.AA-03 partial match
prevents

Authentication policies can enforce stronger credential handling yet address only verification, not storage or transit protection.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

prevents

Requiring protected storage, transmission, and non-display of passwords prevents credentials from being stored or sent in clear text where they can be harvested by unauthorized actors.

prevents

Protecting secret and private keys against disclosure and unauthorized use decreases the exposure of credentials that are stored or transmitted in recoverable form.

prevents

Forbidding clear-text transmission and display of passwords, plus the use of stronger alternatives to passwords, prevents credentials from being obtained or reused by attackers.

prevents

Acceptable-use expectations that cover protection of credentials and information assets throughout their lifecycle discourage practices that expose or mishandle authentication material.

prevents

Contractual clauses that survive termination help ensure that credentials and other secrets are not retained or misused after employment ends.

prevents

Regular reminders about password security and personal accountability make users less likely to store or transmit credentials in cleartext or other unprotected forms.

References