QSPI flash encryption side-channel leakage

Answer in brief

CVE-2026-18796 records a Unknown severity vulnerability in QSPI flash encryption side-channel leakage. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. The current feed maps Nordic Semiconductor ASA/nRF5340 (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Analysis pending evidence review

HOL Guard separates source facts from reviewed analysis. See the methodology.

Published Sep 7, 2026Updated Sep 7, 2026Source checked Sep 7, 2026First seen by HOL Sep 7, 2026Material review Sep 7, 2026

Upstream Advisory

Key facts

Risk: Unknown severitySource severity not reported
Exploitation: Not marked as known exploited
Affected software: 1 mapped package or product
Fix availability: Not reported

Why this deserves its current priority

A CVSS score is not reported in the current record. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. Treat this as a source-backed prioritization signal, not a statement about your environment.

Analysis status

Analysis pending evidence review

Factual feed record only; HOL analysis is not approved for indexing. Read the methodology.

Affected scope and exposure questions

The current feed maps Nordic Semiconductor ASA/nRF5340 (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Mapped affected packages and fixed versions
Package	Affected range	Fixed version
Nordic Semiconductor ASA/nRF5340generic	All build codes	Not reported

Recommended response

Check inventory. Check lockfiles and deployed manifests for Nordic Semiconductor ASA/nRF5340.
Review the reported fix. Monitor this advisory for an available fix and review any installs of the affected package.

Evidence timeline and material changes

Published upstream
Sep 7, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
Source modified
Sep 7, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
First seen by HOL
Sep 7, 2026

Sources and claim methodology

Source referencedocs.nordicsemi.com

Upstream source description

Any application that uses external QSPI flash for encrypted XIP on nRF5340 and relies on that encryption for confidentiality and/or integrity of the externally stored code. No specific nRF Connect SDK version is the root cause; the weakness is in the on-the-fly decryption scheme.

Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.