CVE-2026-114598 in EPICS Base
Summary
by MITRE • 10/27/2026
In EPICS Base release 7.0.10 and prior, an insufficient validation of element or length values in a network message can cause the application to read beyond the bounds of an allocated buffer. This may lead to denial of service and could expose adjacent memory contents.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The vulnerability identified in EPICS Base versions 7.0.10 and prior stems from a critical failure in input validation mechanisms within the network message processing subsystem. Specifically, the application does not adequately verify that element or length values contained within incoming network packets are consistent with the actual size of allocated memory buffers. This lack of rigorous boundary checking allows an attacker to craft maliciously formatted messages where the declared length exceeds the available buffer space. When the application processes these malformed inputs, it proceeds to read data from memory locations beyond the intended allocation boundaries, resulting in a classic out-of-bounds read condition.
From a technical perspective, this flaw represents a fundamental breakdown in defensive programming practices regarding array and buffer management. The system fails to perform necessary sanity checks on metadata before executing memory access operations. In network-facing applications like EPICS Base, which is widely used for controlling large-scale scientific experiments such as particle accelerators and synchrotrons, the integrity of data processing pipelines is paramount. The absence of validation allows external actors to manipulate internal state by reading arbitrary memory contents that were not intended to be exposed through this interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is primarily centered on confidentiality and availability risks. While out-of-bounds reads are often associated with information disclosure, in the context of EPICS Base, they can also lead to denial of service conditions if the read operation triggers a segmentation fault or causes the application to crash due to accessing invalid memory addresses. Furthermore, exposure of adjacent memory contents could potentially leak sensitive operational parameters, configuration details, or other process control data that resides near the targeted buffer in memory. This compromises the security posture of industrial control systems relying on EPICS for real-time monitoring and command execution.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-125, which describes Out-of-bounds Read vulnerabilities where software reads past the end or before the beginning of the intended buffer. It also maps to MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to Collection via Network Capture and potentially T1074 Data Staged if used in conjunction with other exploits for lateral movement within a control network. The attack vector is remote, requiring only network access to the EPICS channel access server or similar service endpoints that process these messages.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the affected software components to version 7.0.11 or later where this validation logic has been corrected. In environments where upgrading is not immediately feasible, network segmentation and strict firewall rules can limit exposure by restricting access to EPICS services only from trusted internal subnets. Additionally, implementing deep packet inspection solutions capable of detecting anomalous message lengths may provide an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts until the underlying code defect is resolved through software updates.