CVE-2026-0796 identifies a command injection vulnerability in the ALGO 8180 IP Audio Alerter device, specifically in its web-based user interface. The flaw arises from improper neutralization of special elements in user-supplied input before it is passed to system calls, classified under CWE-78. This lack of input validation allows an authenticated attacker to inject arbitrary OS commands, leading to remote code execution on the device. The vulnerability affects version 5.5 of the product. Exploitation requires valid authentication credentials but no additional user interaction, making it a significant risk in environments where credentials may be compromised or shared. The device operates in IP audio alerting, often used in public safety, emergency notification, and critical infrastructure environments. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to manipulate alerting systems, disrupt communications, or pivot into broader network environments. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability’s characteristics and CVSS score of 7.2 indicate a high potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability was assigned and published by the Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) under identifier ZDI-CAN-28322. No official patches were listed at the time of publication, emphasizing the need for proactive mitigation.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be severe, especially for entities relying on ALGO 8180 IP Audio Alerter devices for critical communications such as emergency services, public safety agencies, and industrial control systems. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized execution of arbitrary commands, resulting in full device compromise, disruption of alerting services, and potential lateral movement within internal networks. This could degrade the integrity and availability of emergency notification systems, posing risks to public safety and operational continuity. Confidential data processed or stored on these devices could also be exposed or altered. Given the device’s role in alerting, attacks could cause misinformation or failure to deliver critical alerts, amplifying the threat to human safety and infrastructure resilience. The requirement for authentication reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate risk, as credential theft or insider threats remain plausible. The lack of known exploits currently provides a window for mitigation but also underscores the urgency to address the vulnerability before active exploitation emerges.

1. Monitor ALGO’s official channels for patches addressing CVE-2026-0796 and apply them promptly once released. 2. Restrict access to the ALGO 8180 IP Audio Alerter management interface using network segmentation, firewall rules, and VPNs to limit exposure to trusted administrators only. 3. Enforce strong authentication mechanisms, including complex passwords and multi-factor authentication, to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 4. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on any user inputs interacting with the device’s web interface, if customization or additional controls are possible. 5. Conduct regular audits of device access logs to detect suspicious authentication attempts or anomalous command executions. 6. Where feasible, isolate the alerting devices on dedicated network segments to prevent lateral movement in case of compromise. 7. Educate administrators about the risks of credential sharing and phishing attacks that could lead to unauthorized access. 8. Consider deploying intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) tuned to detect unusual command injection patterns targeting these devices. 9. Maintain an inventory of all ALGO 8180 devices in use to ensure comprehensive coverage of mitigation efforts. 10. Prepare incident response plans specific to potential compromise scenarios involving these devices.