CVE-2026-114596 in EPICS Base
Summary
by MITRE • 10/27/2026
In EPICS Base release 7.0.10 and prior, an improper validation of message length values during protocol parsing can trigger an integer overflow, resulting in an out-of-bounds memory write. Successful exploitation can cause process instability or denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The vulnerability identified in EPICS Base versions up to 7.0.10 stems from a critical flaw in the input validation logic governing message length parameters during protocol parsing operations. As an open-source software framework widely deployed for controlling and monitoring distributed scientific instruments, particularly within high-energy physics facilities like particle accelerators and synchrotrons, EPICS relies heavily on robust network communication protocols to maintain real-time data integrity and system stability. The specific technical flaw involves the improper validation of message length values before they are processed by memory allocation routines or buffer copy operations. When a malicious actor constructs a specially crafted packet with an excessively large or malformed length field, the parsing logic fails to correctly interpret or bound this value, leading directly to an integer overflow condition during arithmetic calculations related to buffer sizing or index management.
This integer overflow results in a significantly smaller allocated memory size than required for the incoming data payload, or causes pointer arithmetic errors that direct write operations beyond the boundaries of the intended memory buffer. Consequently, successful exploitation allows an attacker to perform out-of-bounds writes into adjacent memory regions. This type of memory corruption is classified under CWE-190 Integer Overflow and CWE-787 Out-of-Bounds Write in standard vulnerability taxonomy systems. The immediate operational impact of this flaw is severe process instability within the EPICS control system environment. Because these systems often manage critical infrastructure components, such as beamline controls or cryogenic cooling systems, any disruption can lead to a denial of service that halts scientific operations entirely. In more complex scenarios where memory corruption affects control logic structures, it could potentially be leveraged for further exploitation, although the primary documented impact remains system unavailability and instability.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1498 Network Denial of Service, as attackers can exploit the flaw to crash services or degrade performance without necessarily gaining persistent access. The lack of proper bounds checking during protocol parsing represents a fundamental failure in secure coding practices that is common in legacy industrial control system software. Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate patching to EPICS Base version 7.0.11 or later, where the input validation logic has been corrected to properly handle and reject malformed length values before they trigger memory operations. For environments unable to upgrade immediately due to compatibility constraints with older hardware controllers, network-level mitigations such as deep packet inspection firewalls can be employed to filter out packets containing anomalous message lengths based on expected protocol specifications. Additionally, implementing strict input validation at the application layer and deploying intrusion detection systems tuned for industrial control system anomalies can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts targeting this specific weakness in EPICS Base deployments.