CVE-2026-102006 in VxWorks
Summary
by MITRE • 09/29/2026
In Wind River VxWorks 7 prior to 26.09, specific system call arguments can result in the process management subsystem failing to properly release allocated kernel memory before terminating the calling application. Fixed in Version 26.09
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2026
The vulnerability identified in Wind River VxWorks versions prior to 26.09 represents a critical resource management flaw within the operating system's core process handling mechanisms. This issue specifically affects the kernel memory allocation subsystem when it interacts with user-space applications through specific system call arguments. The root cause lies in an improper cleanup routine that fails to execute under certain edge cases during application termination, leading directly to a denial of service condition characterized by progressive resource exhaustion rather than immediate code execution or privilege escalation.
From a technical perspective, the flaw resides in how the VxWorks kernel manages dynamic memory allocation for process control blocks and associated data structures when handling system calls that involve complex argument parsing or state transitions. When an application invokes these specific system calls with particular malformed or unexpected arguments, the kernel allocates necessary resources to facilitate the operation. However, upon termination of the calling process, whether due to normal exit conditions or forced killing by another entity, the cleanup sequence is bypassed for certain allocated blocks. This results in a classic memory leak scenario where kernel heap space remains occupied but inaccessible, effectively reducing the available memory pool for subsequent operations without triggering an immediate crash unless the system reaches critical low-memory thresholds.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is primarily centered on service availability and system stability over time. Since VxWorks is widely deployed in embedded systems, real-time operating environments, and industrial control systems where long uptimes are expected, even small memory leaks can accumulate significantly during extended operation cycles. An attacker or a malfunctioning application could exploit this behavior by repeatedly invoking the affected system calls with specific arguments to induce gradual kernel memory depletion. This leads to increased latency in process scheduling, potential failure of new process creation requests, and eventually a complete system hang requiring a hard reset. In safety-critical applications such as aerospace avionics or medical devices, such instability poses severe risks to operational integrity and user safety.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) category CWE-401, which describes Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime. The failure to properly deallocate resources associated with a terminated process violates the fundamental principle that all allocated kernel memory must be returned to the free pool upon completion or termination of the requesting entity. Furthermore, from an adversary perspective, this behavior can be leveraged within the MITRE ATT&CK framework under techniques related to Resource Hijacking and Denial of Service. While not directly enabling privilege escalation in its current manifestation, persistent resource exhaustion is a common precursor for more severe attacks where attackers exploit system instability to trigger race conditions or bypass security controls that rely on consistent memory availability.
Mitigation strategies focus primarily on software updates and operational hardening. The definitive resolution involves upgrading Wind River VxWorks to version 26.09 or later, which includes the corrected cleanup routines ensuring proper deallocation of kernel resources regardless of how a process terminates. For environments where immediate patching is not feasible due to certification constraints or legacy system dependencies, administrators should implement strict monitoring of kernel memory usage trends and configure watchdog timers to detect abnormal resource consumption patterns indicative of this leak. Additionally, restricting access to the specific system calls involved through mandatory access control policies can limit the attack surface by preventing untrusted applications from triggering the flawed code paths until a permanent fix is applied.