Citrix NetScaler CVE-2026-88771 Detect
10
#!/usr/bin/env python3
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
"""Detect Citrix NetScaler CVE-2026-88771 pre-auth command injection surface."""
import re
import ssl
import urllib.parse
from requests.adapters import HTTPAdapter
from kittysploit import *
from lib.protocols.http.http_client import Http_client
class Module(Scanner, Http_client):
__info__ = {
"name": "Citrix NetScaler CVE-2026-88771 Detect",
"description": (
"Detects Citrix NetScaler ADC/Gateway instances likely affected by "
"CVE-2026-88771. Confirms NetScaler presence, parses appliance build "
"when exposed, and checks whether the AAA login path accepts the "
"pitboss/PPE log trigger pattern used by ns_monuploadd_err.pl."
),
"author": ["KittySploit Team"],
"severity": "critical",
"cve": ["CVE-2026-88771"],
"references": [
"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-88771",
"https://labs.watchtowr.com/oh-look-the-foot-gun-went-off-again-citrix-netscaler-preauth-command-injection-cve-2026-88771/",
"https://support.citrix.com/s/article/CTX697096",
],
"tags": [
"web",
"scanner",
"citrix",
"netscaler",
"adc",
"gateway",
"command-injection",
"pre-auth",
"cve-2026-88771",
"vuln",
],
"agent": {
"risk": "active",
"effects": ["network_probe"],
"expected_requests": 4,
"reversible": True,
"approval_required": False,
"produces": ["tech_hints", "risk_signals"],
"cost": 1.0,
"noise": 0.35,
"value": 1.0,
"requires": {
"tech_hints_any": ["citrix", "netscaler", "adc"],
"endpoint_pattern_any": ["/vpn/", "/logon/"],
},
"chain": {
"produces_capabilities": [
{"capability": "risk_signal", "from_detail": "pitboss log injection"},
],
"suggested_followups": [
"exploits/multi/http/citrix_netscaler_cve_2026_88771_rce",
"scanner/http/netscaler_gateway_detect",
"scanner/http/citrix_netscaler_cve_2026_8451",
],
},
},
}
login_path = OptString("/logon/LogonPoint/index.html", "AAA login page path", False, advanced=True)
build_paths = OptString(
"/vpn/index.html,/logon/LogonPoint/receiver.css",
"Comma-separated paths that may expose build strings",
False,
advanced=True,
)
_BUILD_RE = re.compile(
r"(?:NS(?:13|14)\.\d[-\w.]+|NetScaler\s+\d{2}\.\d[-\w.]*)",
re.IGNORECASE,
)
_PITBOSS_TRIGGER = (
"pitboss PPE unexpectedly died NSPPE-01 missed too many heartbeats"
)
def _configure_netscaler_ssl(self):
class _NetscalerSSLAdapter(HTTPAdapter):
def init_poolmanager(self, *args, **kwargs):
ctx = ssl.create_default_context()
ctx.set_ciphers("DEFAULT@SECLEVEL=1")
ctx.check_hostname = False
kwargs["ssl_context"] = ctx
return super().init_poolmanager(*args, **kwargs)
self.session.mount("https://", _NetscalerSSLAdapter())
@staticmethod
def _parse_build(text: str) -> str:
match = Module._BUILD_RE.search(text or "")
return match.group(0) if match else ""
@staticmethod
def _build_affected(build: str) -> bool | None:
if not build:
return None
normalized = build.upper().replace("NETSCALER", "").strip()
match = re.search(r"(13|14)\.(\d+)[-\s]?([\d.]+)?", normalized)
if not match:
return None
major = int(match.group(1))
minor = int(match.group(2))
if major == 14 and minor == 1:
patch = match.group(3) or "0"
try:
hotfix = float(patch.split("-")[0])
except ValueError:
hotfix = 0.0
return hotfix < 73.32
if major == 13 and minor == 1:
patch = match.group(3) or "0"
try:
hotfix = float(patch.split("-")[0])
except ValueError:
hotfix = 0.0
return hotfix < 63.21
return None
def _netscaler_present(self) -> tuple[bool, str]:
for path in ("/vpn/index.html", str(self.login_path or "/logon/LogonPoint/index.html")):
response = self.http_request(method="GET", path=path, allow_redirects=True)
if not response:
continue
body = response.text or ""
headers = " ".join(f"{k}:{v}" for k, v in (response.headers or {}).items())
blob = f"{body}\n{headers}".lower()
if any(token in blob for token in ("netscaler", "citrix", "nsc_", "cvpn")):
return True, body
return False, ""
def _probe_login_trigger(self) -> bool:
login = str(self.login_path or "/logon/LogonPoint/index.html")
query = urllib.parse.urlencode(
{
"login": self._PITBOSS_TRIGGER,
"passwd": "x",
"savecredentials": "false",
"nsg-x1-logon-button": "Log On",
}
)
path = f"{login}?{query}"
response = self.http_request(method="GET", path=path, allow_redirects=False)
if not response:
return False
return int(response.status_code or 0) in (200, 302, 401, 403)
def run(self):
try:
self._configure_netscaler_ssl()
except Exception:
pass
present, body = self._netscaler_present()
if not present:
return False
build = self._parse_build(body)
for extra in str(self.build_paths or "").split(","):
extra = extra.strip()
if not extra:
continue
response = self.http_request(method="GET", path=extra, allow_redirects=False)
build = build or self._parse_build((response.text or "") if response else "")
affected = self._build_affected(build)
trigger_ok = self._probe_login_trigger()
if affected is False:
return False
if affected is True or (trigger_ok and build):
self.set_info(
severity="critical",
cve="CVE-2026-88771",
reason=(
"NetScaler build appears pre-CTX697096 and accepts pitboss/PPE login trigger"
if build
else "NetScaler gateway accepts pitboss/PPE login trigger pattern"
),
build=build or "unknown",
)
return True
if trigger_ok:
self.set_info(
severity="high",
cve="CVE-2026-88771",
reason="NetScaler gateway accepts pitboss/PPE log trigger (build unknown)",
build=build or "unknown",
)
return True
return False
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05 Oct 2026 14:20Current
8.8High risk
Vulners AI Score8.8
CVSS 3.19.8
CVSS 49.5
EPSS0.01083
SSVC