CVE-2026-79814 Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) CVE debrief

Who should care

Defenders responsible for ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) installations, especially versions 6.11.0 and 6.14.0, should assess their exposure to local privilege escalation attacks and prioritize verifying and patching their installations.

Why it matters

CVE-2026-79814 is a local arbitrary file write vulnerability in the ClearPass Policy Manager OnGuard agent that could allow malicious users on a local instance to elevate their user privileges if certain preconditions outside of the attacker's control are met. Successful exploitation could allow a local attacker to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges on the affected system. Defenders should prioritize verifying and patching ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) installations, especially versions 6.11.0 and 6.14.0, and assess their exposure to local privilege escalation attacks.

• Verification of ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) installations is required to determine exposure.
• Local privilege escalation attacks may be possible if certain preconditions are met.
• Patching ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) installations is necessary to prevent exploitation.

Technical summary

The ClearPass Policy Manager OnGuard agent is vulnerable to a local arbitrary file write vulnerability, which could allow malicious users on a local instance to elevate their user privileges if certain preconditions outside of the attacker's control are met. Successful exploitation could allow a local attacker to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges on the affected system. The vulnerability affects ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) installations, especially versions 6.11.0 and 6.14.0. Defenders should prioritize verifying and patching these installations and assess their exposure to local privilege escalation attacks.

Defensive priority

Defenders should prioritize verifying and patching ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) installations, especially versions 6.11.0 and 6.14.0, and assess their exposure to local privilege escalation attacks.

Recommended defensive actions

• Verify and patch ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) installations, especially versions 6.11.0 and 6.14.0
• Assess exposure to local privilege escalation attacks
• Monitor for suspicious activity related to ClearPass Policy Manager OnGuard agent
• Review compensating controls for exposed systems while remediation is scheduled and verified
• Check relevant monitoring, detection, and logs for exposed assets that need extra review
• Track exceptions, retest remediated assets, and close the item only after evidence is documented
• Confirm whether affected product deployments exist in managed environments and assign an owner for follow-up

Evidence notes

The CVE Program record and NVD vulnerability detail provide information on the vulnerability, but details on exploitation and impact are limited. The ClearPass Policy Manager OnGuard agent is vulnerable to a local arbitrary file write vulnerability. Defenders should verify and patch ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) installations, especially versions 6.11.0 and 6.14.0. Limited information is available on the specific preconditions required for exploitation.

Sources and references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.