CVE-2026-115231 in ThreadX
Summary
by MITRE • 11/03/2026
In Eclipse ThreadX versions 6.0.1 through 6.5.2.202603, the Module Manager lets a user-mode, memory-protected module post a forged callback request to another module's callback request queue. The receiving module's callback thread calls the function pointer in the request without checking that the Module Manager sent it, so the attacker's code runs with the receiving module's privilege; when that module runs in privileged mode, a user-mode module gains privileged execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2026
The vulnerability identified in Eclipse ThreadX versions 6.0.1 through 6.5.2.202603 represents a critical failure in inter-module communication security within the real-time operating system's Module Manager architecture. This flaw allows an attacker to bypass privilege boundaries by exploiting insufficient validation of callback requests posted between modules. Specifically, the vulnerability arises because user-mode modules with memory protection capabilities are able to inject forged entries into another module’s callback request queue via the Module Manager interface. The core technical deficiency lies in the receiving module's callback thread implementation, which invokes function pointers contained within these queued requests without verifying that the request originated from a trusted source or was properly authenticated by the Module Manager. This lack of origin verification effectively neutralizes the security isolation provided by memory protection and privilege levels, allowing code execution to escalate beyond intended boundaries.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables a user-mode module to achieve arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the receiving module. In embedded systems where ThreadX is commonly deployed, many modules operate in privileged mode to access hardware resources or manage critical system functions. When such a privileged module processes a maliciously crafted callback request, it executes attacker-controlled instructions within its own high-privilege context. This results in a complete compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability for the affected component and potentially the entire system if the compromised module controls security-critical services. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it does not require physical access or prior exploitation of other vulnerabilities; an attacker who can execute code within any user-mode module that has permission to post callbacks can trigger this escalation.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) categories such as CWE-20 Improper Input Validation and CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write if the forged request corrupts memory structures, though its primary classification is closer to CWE-94 Improper Control of Generation of Code or CWE-613 Insufficient Session Expiration. In terms of the MITRE ATT&CK framework for embedded systems, this behavior corresponds to techniques involving privilege escalation and lateral movement within a constrained environment. The attacker leverages trusted system components to execute unauthorized commands, effectively using the receiving module as a vehicle for code execution. This pattern is consistent with attacks that exploit trust relationships between software modules in multi-tenant or complex real-time operating environments where strict separation of duties is not enforced at the API level.
Mitigation strategies must focus on strengthening the validation mechanisms within the Module Manager and the callback handling routines of affected modules. The most effective remediation involves implementing rigorous authentication checks for all incoming callback requests, ensuring that only requests originating from authorized sources or verified through cryptographic signatures are processed. Additionally, developers should enforce strict access control policies at the API level to restrict which user-mode modules can post callbacks to specific privileged module queues. Code reviews should prioritize verifying the integrity of function pointers and ensuring that no external input is directly executed without prior sanitization and validation against a whitelist of allowed targets. Updating to patched versions of Eclipse ThreadX where these checks have been implemented by the vendor is essential for immediate risk reduction, alongside architectural changes that decouple callback invocation from direct pointer dereferencing in untrusted contexts.