CVE-2025-40760
📋 TL;DR
A vulnerability in Altair Grid Engine versions before V2026.0.0 allows local attackers to extract password hashes for privileged accounts through error message mishandling during authentication. This enables offline brute-force attacks against administrative credentials. Only local attackers can exploit this vulnerability.
💻 Affected Systems
- Altair Grid Engine
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers gain administrative access to the Grid Engine cluster, potentially compromising all managed jobs, stealing sensitive data, or disrupting critical computational workloads.
Likely Case
Attackers obtain password hashes for privileged accounts and successfully crack them offline, gaining elevated access to manage or monitor cluster resources.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls and monitoring, unauthorized hash extraction is detected and prevented before successful cracking occurs.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local access to trigger the error condition that reveals password hashes.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: V2026.0.0
Vendor Advisory: https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-514895.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download Altair Grid Engine V2026.0.0 or later from official sources. 2. Backup current configuration and data. 3. Stop all Grid Engine services. 4. Install the updated version following vendor documentation. 5. Restart Grid Engine services. 6. Verify functionality.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict Local Access
allLimit local system access to trusted administrators only through strict access controls and monitoring.
Monitor Authentication Logs
allImplement enhanced monitoring for authentication failures and error messages that might indicate exploitation attempts.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls to limit local system access to essential personnel only
- Deploy enhanced monitoring for authentication-related error messages and failed login attempts
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check the installed Altair Grid Engine version using 'qconf -help' or vendor documentation. If version is below V2026.0.0, the system is vulnerable.Check Version:
qconf -help | grep -i versionVerify Fix Applied:
After patching, verify the version shows V2026.0.0 or higher using 'qconf -help' or vendor verification commands.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual authentication error messages containing hash-like strings
- Multiple failed authentication attempts from local users
- Error logs showing password hash disclosure
Network Indicators:
- Local authentication traffic patterns showing repeated failures
SIEM Query:
source="grid_engine_logs" AND ("authentication error" OR "password hash" OR "failed auth")