CVE-2026-111730 in P-Net
Summary
by MITRE • 10/29/2026
P-Net before 1.0.3 does not validate the LengthPeerStationName field of a CheckPeers block in get_check_peer(). The received length (up to 255) was used to copy data into the 241-byte peer station name buffer and to place the terminating NUL byte, so a crafted block writes up to 15 bytes past the end of the buffer. This can lead to a crash (denial of service) or potentially arbitrary code execution.
Requires establishment of session that needs ADJACENT network access.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/29/2026
The vulnerability in P-Net versions prior to 1.0.3 stems from an improper input validation mechanism within the get_check_peer function, specifically concerning the LengthPeerStationName field found inside a CheckPeers block. This flaw represents a classic buffer overflow scenario where the application fails to verify that the length specified by the attacker-controlled data aligns with the actual capacity of the destination memory buffer. The software allocates a fixed-size buffer of 241 bytes for storing peer station names, yet it blindly trusts the value provided in the LengthPeerStationName field without performing bounds checking against this allocated size limit. Consequently, when processing a maliciously crafted CheckPeers block with a length value approaching the maximum allowed integer of 255, the application proceeds to copy data into the buffer and append a terminating null byte based on that unvalidated length.
This lack of validation results in writing up to fifteen bytes beyond the end of the allocated twenty-four-one-byte buffer. In memory management terms, this constitutes an out-of-bounds write operation which corrupts adjacent memory structures. The immediate operational impact is typically a crash or denial of service due to stack corruption or heap metadata damage, depending on the internal implementation details and runtime environment. However, in more sophisticated exploitation scenarios, such as those involving controlled heap layouts or specific compiler optimizations, this buffer overflow can be leveraged to overwrite critical control data such as return addresses or function pointers. This capability opens the door for arbitrary code execution, allowing an attacker to gain full control over the affected system processes and potentially compromise the integrity of the entire network infrastructure managed by P-Net.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability is categorized under CWE-120 Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input which directly leads to memory corruption issues. It also aligns with CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write indicating that data is written outside the boundaries of an allocated buffer. In terms of attack vectors and tactics, this flaw facilitates exploitation through network-based interactions where the attacker must establish a session requiring adjacent network access as per ATT&CK technique T1046 Network Service Discovery or more broadly within lateral movement phases if initial access has been gained via other means. The requirement for adjacent network access implies that remote attackers over wide area networks cannot exploit this directly without first compromising an intermediate host, highlighting the importance of segmenting industrial control systems and limiting exposure to trusted subnets only.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching to version 1.0.3 or later where the developer has implemented proper bounds checking for the LengthPeerStationName field before performing memory copy operations. Until patches are applied, network segmentation policies must be strictly enforced to ensure that only authorized and verified devices can communicate with P-Net services on adjacent networks. Additionally, deploying intrusion detection systems capable of identifying anomalous packet structures or malformed protocol messages in industrial protocols may provide an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts targeting this specific memory corruption flaw. Regular security audits focusing on input validation practices within network service handlers are recommended to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future updates.