CVE-2026-11403 — Nexus Repository Manager - Insufficient Entropy in Format-Specific API Key Generation
A vulnerability in Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager's format-specific API key generation may allow a remote attacker to gain unauthorized access to repository operations as a targeted user. A format-specific API key realm (NuGet API Key, Docker Bearer Token, or npm Bearer Token) must be enabled and the targeted user must have an active API key for this vulnerability to be exploitable.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- Technical severity (high)+6
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
CISA SSVC assessment CISA
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager).
- The attack is network-based and needs no privileges: restrict exposure (ACLs, VPN, WAF) until patched.
- No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
- Search available logs for exploit probes, errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonatype | Nexus Repository Manager | ≥ 3.0.0 and < 3.93.0 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Sonatype | Nexus Repository Manager | ≥ 3.0.0 and < 3.93.0 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.7 | CVSS 4.0 | High | — | — | 103e4ec9-0a87-450b-af77-479448ddef11 via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 8.7 | CVSS 4.0 | High | — | — | Sonatype via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| 7.5 | CVSS 3.1 | High | 3.9 | 3.6 | nvd@nist.gov via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N (score shown at the top: nvd@nist.gov) Weakness MITRE
Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Prioritize edge telemetry for the network-reachable component (proxy, WAF, IDS/IPS).
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · sonatype/nexus repository manager
- SSVC assessment updated
- Record published
- CVSS changed · 7.5
- Source status changed · → Analyzed
- Record created in this database
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 15, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026
References
2 on the record
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Medium CVE-2026-77121 Nexus Repository 3 - Denial of Service via Unbounded Maven POM Metadata Fields Sep 2, 2026
- High CVE-2026-17603 Code Injection in Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager Aug 7, 2026
- High CVE-2026-17601 Missing Authorization in Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager Aug 7, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-17598 Mass Assignment in Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager Aug 7, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-17596 Cross-site Scripting (XSS) in Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager Aug 7, 2026
- Low CVE-2026-17597 Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) in Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager Aug 7, 2026
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No FIRST EPSS score.
- No fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-11403 is "Nexus Repository Manager - Insufficient Entropy in Format-Specific API Key Generation", rated High. It affects Nexus Repository Manager (Sonatype); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 7.5 describes technical severity. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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