Microsoft Azure CycleCloud: Local privilege escalation via path traversal
Summary
Azure CycleCloud, a management platform for High Performance Computing environments on Azure, contains a path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22). An authorized local user with low privileges can exploit it to elevate their privileges on the system. The attack requires local access and a valid account; it cannot be exploited remotely over the internet.
Affected
- Microsoft Azure CycleCloud 8.9.2 to before 8.10.1 (according to the CVE record; verify on MSRC)
Fixed in
- Update to 8.10.1 or later. The exact fixed build number is not confirmed in the sources reviewed; check the MSRC advisory.
Workaround
Unknown. No vendor-documented workaround found.
- Restrict who holds local shell or CycleCloud accounts on the server.
Exploitation
- CISA SSVC: Exploitation none, Automatable no, Technical Impact total.
- CVE record: exploit maturity unproven.
- Not listed in CISA KEV; no public proof of concept known.
Our recommendation
- Identify CycleCloud servers and their versions.
- Upgrade servers in the 8.9.2 to 8.10.1 range, confirming the exact fixed build on MSRC.
- Review local accounts on affected servers and remove unneeded access.
- Monitor for unusual privilege changes on these servers.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-114161 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE Record CVE-2026-114161 www.cve.org
- Strix: CVE-2026-114161 www.strix.ai
- Rapid7: Patch Tuesday November 2026 www.rapid7.com
- Microsoft Azure CycleCloud overview learn.microsoft.com
Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 11 Nov 2026, 04:05.
Original description (NVD)
Improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory ('path traversal') in Azure CycleCloud allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
NVD references (1)
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
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