📄 Description (English)
A security flaw has been discovered in NousResearch hermes-agent up to 2026.4.23. This affects the function _sync_anthropic_entry_from_credentials_file of the file agent/credential_pool.py of the component Credential Pool Synchronization. The manipulation results in improper authentication. The attack must be initiated from a local position. The exploit has been released to the public and may be used for attacks. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2026-10548 is a medium-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in NousResearch hermes-agent affecting credential pool synchronization. The flaw allows local attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms through improper credential handling in the _sync_anthropic_entry_from_credentials_file function. With public exploit availability and no vendor patch, immediate compensating controls are critical for organizations using this AI agent framework.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Jun 2, 2026 13:01
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability primarily impacts Saudi organizations deploying hermes-agent for AI-driven automation, particularly in: (1) Financial Technology and Banking sector using AI agents for transaction processing and credential management; (2) Government digital transformation initiatives leveraging AI frameworks; (3) Telecommunications companies (STC, Mobily) implementing AI-based customer service agents; (4) Healthcare institutions using AI agents for data processing. The local attack vector limits exposure but poses significant risk in multi-tenant cloud environments and development/testing infrastructure common in Saudi tech companies.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Financial Technology & Banking
Government & Digital Transformation
Telecommunications
Healthcare
Software Development & Technology Services
Energy & Utilities
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
6.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
Immediate Actions:
1. Inventory all systems running NousResearch hermes-agent versions up to 2026.4.23
2. Restrict local access to systems running affected versions using OS-level access controls
3. Implement file integrity monitoring on credential_pool.py and related credential files
4. Review access logs for unauthorized credential synchronization attempts
Compensating Controls (until patch available):
5. Disable credential pool synchronization features if not operationally required
6. Implement strict file permissions on credential storage directories (chmod 600 or equivalent)
7. Deploy application-level authentication logging and alerting for credential access
8. Isolate hermes-agent instances in network segments with restricted lateral movement
9. Implement secrets rotation policies with increased frequency
10. Use hardware security modules (HSM) or vault solutions for credential storage instead of file-based storage
Detection Rules:
- Monitor for unauthorized modifications to credential_pool.py
- Alert on unexpected calls to _sync_anthropic_entry_from_credentials_file function
- Track failed authentication attempts following credential synchronization events
- Monitor for credential file access outside normal operational windows
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. حصر جميع الأنظمة التي تقوم بتشغيل إصدارات NousResearch hermes-agent حتى 2026.4.23
2. تقييد الوصول المحلي للأنظمة التي تقوم بتشغيل الإصدارات المتأثرة باستخدام ضوابط الوصول على مستوى نظام التشغيل
3. تنفيذ مراقبة سلامة الملفات على credential_pool.py والملفات الاعتماد ذات الصلة
4. مراجعة سجلات الوصول لمحاولات مزامنة الاعتماد غير المصرح بها
الضوابط التعويضية (حتى توفر التصحيح):
5. تعطيل ميزات مزامنة مجموعة بيانات الاعتماد إذا لم تكن مطلوبة تشغيليًا
6. تنفيذ أذونات ملفات صارمة على دلائل تخزين الاعتماد (chmod 600 أو ما يعادله)
7. نشر تسجيل المصادقة على مستوى التطبيق والتنبيهات لوصول الاعتماد
8. عزل مثيلات hermes-agent في قطاعات الشبكة ذات الحركة الجانبية المقيدة
9. تنفيذ سياسات تدوير الأسرار بتكرار متزايد
10. استخدام وحدات الأمان الصلبة (HSM) أو حلول الخزائن لتخزين الاعتماد بدلاً من التخزين المستند إلى الملفات
قواعد الكشف:
- مراقبة التعديلات غير المصرح بها على credential_pool.py
- التنبيه على استدعاءات غير متوقعة لدالة _sync_anthropic_entry_from_credentials_file
- تتبع محاولات المصادقة الفاشلة التالية لأحداث مزامنة الاعتماد
- مراقبة وصول ملفات الاعتماد خارج نوافذ التشغيل العادية
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.5.1.1 - Access control policies and procedures
A.6.2.1 - User registration and de-registration
A.8.2.1 - User access management
A.9.2.1 - User access provisioning
A.9.4.3 - Password management systems
🔵 SAMA CSF
ID.AM-1 - Asset Management
PR.AC-1 - Access Control Policy
PR.AC-2 - Physical and Logical Access Controls
DE.CM-1 - Detection and Analysis
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.5.1.1 - Policies for information security
A.6.2 - User access management
A.8.2 - User access provisioning
A.9.2.1 - User registration and de-registration
A.9.4.3 - Password management
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
Requirement 2.1 - Configuration standards
Requirement 6.2 - Security patches
Requirement 7 - Restrict access to data
Requirement 8.1 - User identification and authentication
🔗 References & Sources 5