Critical Airleader Vulnerability Enables Remote Code Execution

CISA disclosed a critical vulnerability in Airleader Master software on February 12, 2026. Tracked as CVE-2026-1358, the flaw carries a CVSS v3 score of 9.8. Unauthenticated attackers can execute arbitrary code remotely through unrestricted file uploads.

The vulnerability affects all Airleader Master versions up to 6.381. Germany-based Airleader GmbH develops the industrial control system monitoring solution. Attackers upload dangerous file types that execute immediately on target systems.

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Critical infrastructure sectors face highest risk. Energy, chemical, healthcare, food production, manufacturing, transportation, and water systems all use Airleader Master for optimization. No public exploits exist yet, but damage potential remains severe.

Vulnerability Details

Unrestricted file upload flaws allow malicious payloads without authentication. Attackers target internet-facing Airleader instances first. Successful exploitation grants full server control and network access.

CISA advisory ICSA-26-043-10 provides full technical details. System administrators must review exposure immediately. Global deployments amplify attack surface significantly.​

Operators cannot detect exploitation easily without logging. Network segmentation provides primary defense layer. Internet exposure equals guaranteed compromise risk.

Affected Systems

Risked Sectors

• Energy generation and distribution
• Chemical manufacturing plants
• Healthcare facility management
• Food and agriculture processing
• Discrete manufacturing operations
• Transportation control systems
• Water and wastewater treatment

Immediate Actions

• Identify all Airleader Master deployments.
• Remove internet access completely.
• Apply available patches from Airleader GmbH.
• Segment ICS networks behind firewalls.
• Deploy VPNs only for authorized remote access.

CISA Recommendations

CISA mandates defense-in-depth strategies. Firewalls must block unauthorized protocols. VPN configurations require regular hardening audits. Impact assessments guide mitigation priorities.

Targeted intrusion detection supplements perimeter controls. ICS-TIP-12-146-01B outlines detection strategies. Suspicious activity warrants immediate CISA reporting for coordinated response.

Technical Impact

Attackers execute code as system privileges. ICS servers become attack pivots. Lateral movement targets SCADA systems and HMIs. Operational technology disruption follows IT compromise.

Airleader Master optimizes industrial processes. Compromise corrupts monitoring data and control decisions. Physical safety risks emerge from falsified sensor readings.

Best Practices

• Never expose ICS to public internet.
• Harden VPN endpoints with MFA.
• Monitor file upload attempts in logs.
• Conduct regular vulnerability scanning.
• Maintain air-gapped patching processes.

Official Sources:
CISA ICS Advisory
NVD Entry

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