CVE-2026-16530 in Red Hat
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2026
A flaw was found in the PCP (Performance Co-Pilot) `pmproxy` service. A remote attacker can exploit a vulnerability in the `pmLogLoadInDom()` function by sending a specially crafted request. This bypasses a critical bounds check, which can lead to the `pmproxy` service crashing, causing a Denial of Service (DoS). Additionally, this flaw may enable the leakage of sensitive information from the system's memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2026
The vulnerability resides within the Performance Co-Pilot pmproxy service, a critical component responsible for monitoring and managing performance data in Unix-like systems. This service operates as a network daemon that processes requests from clients seeking performance metrics and log data. The flaw specifically targets the pmLogLoadInDom() function which handles loading of performance log data into domain structures. When processing specially crafted requests, the function fails to properly validate input parameters against established bounds, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers. This represents a classic buffer over-read vulnerability where insufficient validation allows memory access beyond allocated boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking mechanisms within the pmLogLoadInDom() function's parameter processing logic. When malicious input is received through network connections, the service does not properly verify array indices or data structure limits before accessing memory locations. This failure to validate input parameters creates a condition where attacker-controlled data can influence memory access patterns, potentially causing memory corruption and system instability. The vulnerability operates at the application layer of the network stack, requiring no local privileges for exploitation since it targets network-facing services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to include potential information disclosure risks. When the pmproxy service crashes due to memory access violations, it may leave sensitive data in memory that could be exposed through subsequent memory dumps or debugging processes. This information leakage scenario aligns with common attack patterns targeting system stability and data confidentiality. The DoS aspect prevents legitimate users from accessing performance monitoring services, while the information disclosure threat compromises system integrity and potentially exposes sensitive operational metrics that could aid further attacks.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected versions to address the bounds checking deficiency in pmLogLoadInDom() function. System administrators must implement network segmentation to limit access to pmproxy services only to authorized clients. Input validation controls should be enhanced through parameter sanitization and additional boundary checks before memory operations. Monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual connection patterns or malformed requests that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-129 which addresses insufficient validation of length of inputs, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access controls for pmproxy services can limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts while maintaining operational functionality.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of robust input validation in network services and demonstrate how seemingly minor boundary checking failures can create significant security risks. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments targeting similar functions within performance monitoring tools and ensure proper code review processes are implemented to identify such issues before deployment. Regular security testing including fuzzing and penetration testing of network services helps identify these types of memory corruption vulnerabilities that could be exploited for both service disruption and information gathering purposes.