CVE-2026-102005 in VxWorks
Summary
by MITRE • 09/28/2026
Wind River VxWorks 7 24.03 through 26.03, a memory leak occurs under specific, non-default configuration states when processing specific service routines, causing the system to terminate operations before releasing allocated memory pools. Fixed in VxWorks 7 26.09
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2026
The vulnerability identified in Wind River VxWorks versions 7 from release 24.03 through 26.03 represents a critical resource management flaw within the operating system's service routine processing logic. This issue manifests as a memory leak that occurs under specific, non-default configuration states. The root cause lies in the failure of certain internal service routines to properly deallocate or return allocated memory pools back to the system after their execution completes. In real-time operating systems like VxWorks, efficient memory management is paramount for maintaining deterministic behavior and system stability. When a routine fails to release these resources, it results in a gradual but steady consumption of available RAM, which can eventually lead to resource exhaustion.
From a technical perspective, this flaw aligns with CWE-401, which describes the improper release of memory or resources before removing all references from them. The vulnerability is particularly insidious because it does not trigger under default configurations, meaning that systems deployed in standard environments may remain unaffected for extended periods. However, as organizations customize their VxWorks deployments to meet specific application requirements, they often enable additional services or adjust configuration parameters that activate the affected code paths. Once these non-default states are engaged and the vulnerable service routines are invoked repeatedly over time, the cumulative effect of unreleased memory pools becomes significant. This type of defect is characteristic of CWE-404, which involves improper resource shutdown or release, leading to system instability when resources are not correctly managed during lifecycle transitions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability centers on progressive system degradation and potential denial of service conditions. As the leaked memory accumulates, the total available heap space diminishes, forcing the operating system to struggle with allocating new buffers for critical tasks such as network packet processing, file I/O operations, or inter-task communication. In a real-time environment, where timing constraints are strict, this resource starvation can cause task scheduling delays, increased latency, and ultimately, a complete halt of system operations. The description notes that the system terminates operations before releasing allocated memory pools, indicating that the failure mode may involve hard faults or watchdog resets as the kernel attempts to manage critically low memory conditions. This behavior disrupts the availability guarantee provided by real-time operating systems, potentially causing data loss or safety-critical failures in embedded applications ranging from industrial control systems to aerospace avionics.
This vulnerability is relevant to the MITRE ATT&CK framework under techniques related to resource exhaustion and denial of service, specifically within the context of local exploitation if an attacker can trigger the specific non-default configurations or invoke the affected services repeatedly. While primarily a stability issue rather than a direct privilege escalation vector, the resulting system crash provides an opportunity for availability-focused attacks. Adversaries with limited access could potentially exploit this flaw to disrupt critical infrastructure by inducing memory exhaustion through sustained interaction with vulnerable service endpoints. The lack of immediate detection mechanisms in standard monitoring tools further exacerbates the risk, as the slow leak may go unnoticed until catastrophic failure occurs.
Mitigation strategies must focus on both software updates and architectural hardening. Wind River has addressed this issue in VxWorks 7 version 26.09, which includes corrections to the service routine memory management logic to ensure proper deallocation of pools upon completion. Organizations running affected versions should prioritize upgrading to this patched release or later as soon as feasible. For environments where immediate patching is not possible due to certification cycles or operational constraints, temporary mitigations involve reviewing system configurations to disable any non-default services that are known to trigger the vulnerable code paths. Additionally, implementing robust memory monitoring and watchdog timers can help detect abnormal resource consumption patterns early, allowing for automated restarts before total system failure occurs. Long-term remediation should also include rigorous testing of custom VxWorks configurations against updated versions to verify that no other similar leaks exist in modified service routines, ensuring comprehensive protection against this class of resource management defects.