Vulnerability · Published Mar 31, 2026 · Assigned by icscert

CVE-2026-1579PX4 Autopilot Missing authentication for critical function

Critical 9.8

In plain English

A critical-severity missing authentication in Autopilot from PX4. There are no confirmed reports of exploitation so far. The chance it is exploited in the next 30 days is estimated at 1.0% (higher than 62% of all known vulnerabilities).

Severity (CVSS 3.1)9.8Critical
Exploit odds (30 days)1.0%top 38.2% of all CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo reportsCISA SSVC: none
Attack toolingNoneno public tooling known

Official description

The 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.

Affected products (as reported)

VendorProductVersions
PX4 Autopilot v1.16.0 SITL

Weakness: CWE-306 · Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

References