CVE-2025-70083 in OpenSatKit
Summary
by MITRE • 02/11/2026
An issue was discovered in OpenSatKit 2.2.1. The DirName field in the telecommand is provided by the ground segment and must be treated as untrusted input. The program copies DirName into the local buffer DirWithSep using strcpy. The size of this buffer is OS_MAX_PATH_LEN. If the length of DirName is greater than or equal to OS_MAX_PATH_LEN, a stack buffer overflow occurs, overwriting adjacent stack memory. The path length check (FileUtil_AppendPathSep) is performed after the strcpy operation, meaning the validation occurs too late and cannot prevent the overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/13/2026
The vulnerability identified in OpenSatKit 2.2.1 represents a critical stack buffer overflow condition that stems from improper input validation and memory management practices within the telecommand processing subsystem. This issue resides in the handling of directory names provided by ground segment operations, where the DirName field serves as untrusted input that should never be directly copied into local buffers without adequate size verification. The flaw manifests when the system attempts to process directory paths through the DirWithSep buffer, which has a fixed size defined by OS_MAX_PATH_LEN, creating a deterministic attack surface for remote exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a classic buffer overflow pattern where the strcpy function executes before any length validation occurs, allowing maliciously crafted input to exceed the allocated buffer boundaries. The FileUtil_AppendPathSep validation function, which should serve as a protective mechanism, is positioned incorrectly in the execution flow to occur after the dangerous strcpy operation has already taken place. This temporal ordering issue creates a window of opportunity where untrusted input can overwrite adjacent stack memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The vulnerability specifically targets the stack memory layout and can be exploited by attackers who control the ground segment communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it provides potential attackers with pathways to compromise satellite ground systems and potentially gain unauthorized access to critical space infrastructure. The stack buffer overflow can result in predictable memory corruption patterns that may allow attackers to overwrite return addresses, function pointers, or other critical stack variables, enabling privilege escalation or denial of service conditions. Given that OpenSatKit operates in mission-critical environments where satellite operations depend on reliable ground communication systems, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to operational continuity and security posture. The attack vector through ground segment telecommands makes this particularly concerning for space agencies and defense contractors who rely on these systems for satellite control and data processing.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation before any memory copying operations occur, utilizing safer string handling functions such as strncpy or strlcpy that enforce buffer boundaries during copy operations. The system architecture must be redesigned to ensure that validation occurs prior to any memory manipulation, eliminating the temporal gap that currently enables exploitation. Additionally, implementing stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and other exploit mitigation techniques can provide additional defense layers. The fix should also include comprehensive logging and monitoring of telecommand inputs to detect anomalous patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, aligning with security best practices outlined in the CWE-121 category for stack-based buffer overflow conditions. The remediation approach must address the fundamental architectural flaw in the validation sequence while maintaining system functionality and operational requirements for legitimate satellite operations.