NVIDIA Jetson JetPack Insecure Default Initialization Vulnerability (CVE-2026-24148)

CVE-2026-24148 is a vulnerability affecting NVIDIA Jetson devices running JetPack. The vulnerability exists within the system initialization logic, allowing an unprivileged attacker to trigger the initialization of a resource with an insecure default configuration. This can occur because of improper access control or error handling during the system startup. Successful exploitation of this flaw can result in sensitive information disclosure, where encrypted data becomes exposed, data tampering, allowing malicious modification of critical system files, and ultimately lead to a partial denial of service across multiple devices that share the same machine ID. This vulnerability poses a significant risk to devices in shared environments or those handling sensitive data, as an attacker gaining local access can potentially compromise the entire system.

Attack Chain

1. Attacker gains unprivileged local access to an NVIDIA Jetson device.
2. Attacker identifies the vulnerable system initialization process.
3. Attacker crafts a malicious request or input to trigger the insecure default initialization.
4. The system initializes a resource with a weak or predictable configuration due to the vulnerability.
5. Sensitive data, such as encryption keys or configuration settings, are exposed due to the insecure initialization.
6. Attacker retrieves the exposed data.
7. Attacker leverages the compromised data to tamper with system files or configurations.
8. The system experiences a partial denial of service due to the data tampering or resource exhaustion caused by the attacker.

Impact

Successful exploitation of CVE-2026-24148 can lead to a range of negative consequences, including the exposure of sensitive data, data tampering, and partial denial of service. The impact is amplified on devices sharing the same machine ID, as a single successful exploit can potentially compromise multiple systems. Organizations using vulnerable NVIDIA Jetson devices, particularly in shared environments or for processing sensitive information, face a heightened risk of data breaches, system instability, and potential operational disruptions.

Recommendation

• Monitor process activity for unusual resource initialization processes using the Sigma rule provided to detect potential exploitation attempts.
• Apply the latest security patches and updates released by NVIDIA for JetPack to address CVE-2026-24148 to remediate the underlying vulnerability.
• Restrict local access to NVIDIA Jetson devices to minimize the attack surface.
• Review and harden the default configurations of system resources to reduce the impact of insecure initialization vulnerabilities, referencing CWE-1188.