Brocade ASCG: Hard-coded cryptographic key in software binaries
Summary
Brocade Active Support Connectivity Gateway (ASCG) versions before 3.5.0 contain a static cryptographic key hardcoded into the software binaries. The key is used to protect sensitive data at rest and inter-node communication. An attacker who has local access with high privileges and extracts the key can decrypt stored management credentials or forge administrative synchronization messages.
Affected
- Brocade ASCG versions before 3.5.0 (range 0 to < 3.5.0 per CNA data)
Fixed in
- Brocade ASCG 3.5.0 (per CNA data; to be confirmed against the Broadcom advisory)
Workaround
- No vendor workaround found. Upgrade is the recommended remediation.
- Restrict management access to trusted administration networks.
- Limit local and OS-level access to the installation files.
Exploitation
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, not automatable, total technical impact.
- No evidence of exploitation in the wild found; not listed in KEV.
- No public proof of concept found; search was limited.
Our recommendation
- Identify all ASCG instances and their versions.
- Plan the upgrade to version 3.5.0 or later and confirm the fix against Broadcom advisory 38379 before rollout.
- After upgrading, re-enter or rotate stored management credentials, since they may have been protected with the old key.
- Restrict local and administrative access to the appliance.
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Broadcom Security Advisory 38379 support.broadcom.com
- VulDB CVE-2026-85422 vuldb.com
- VulDB vulnerability 415296 vuldb.com
- Rapid7 via Vulners CVE-2026-85422 vulners.com
- Strix CVE-2026-85422 www.strix.ai
- PSIRT CVE-2026-85422 psirt.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 1 Nov 2026, 12:44.
Original description (NVD)
A vulnerability in Brocade ASCG version before 3.5.0 could allow an attacker to obtain a static cryptographic key hardcoded into the software binaries to secure sensitive data at rest and to protect inter-node communication protocols. An attacker who extracts this key can decrypt stored management credentials or craft forged administrative synchronization messages.
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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