CVE-2026-43841 in ADAM-3600
Summary
by MITRE • 10/20/2026
A NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in the license manager service could allow an unauthenticated attacker to crash the service via the rpc_rx_fsm function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2026
The identified vulnerability represents a critical stability issue within the license management subsystem, specifically manifesting as a null pointer dereference during remote procedure call handling. This flaw is located within the rpc_rx_fsm function, which serves as the finite state machine responsible for processing incoming RPC requests from clients. The core technical deficiency lies in the absence of rigorous input validation and defensive programming practices when initializing or accessing data structures associated with these networked transactions. When an unauthenticated attacker interacts with this service by sending a specifically crafted request that triggers specific code paths within the rpc_rx_fsm function, the system fails to verify whether critical pointers are valid before attempting to dereference them. Consequently, if the expected object is not properly instantiated or initialized due to malformed input or unexpected state transitions, the application attempts to access memory address zero, leading directly to a segmentation fault and an immediate crash of the license manager service process.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability results in a severe denial-of-service condition for any system relying on the affected license management infrastructure. Since the attack vector requires no authentication, it is exceptionally easy to exploit remotely over the network without prior access credentials. The impact extends beyond simple availability loss; because the license manager often acts as a gatekeeper for software functionality or entitlements, its unavailability can halt business operations that depend on valid licensing checks. Furthermore, in environments where high availability is paramount, such crashes may trigger automatic restart mechanisms that consume additional system resources and potentially mask other underlying issues during recovery periods. The lack of authentication requirement significantly lowers the barrier to entry for attackers, allowing anyone with network connectivity to disrupt service integrity continuously or intermittently through repeated exploitation attempts.
This vulnerability aligns closely with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) category CWE-476, which defines a NULL Pointer Dereference as a situation where software dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is actually null, typically causing a crash or exit. In the context of modern attack frameworks, this behavior corresponds to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1499, Endpoint Denial of Service, specifically under sub-techniques involving resource exhaustion via service disruption. The exploitation relies on manipulating the application state machine through network inputs, highlighting weaknesses in input validation and error handling within remote procedure call implementations. To mitigate this risk, immediate remediation should focus on implementing strict null checks before any pointer dereference operations occur within the rpc_rx_fsm function. Developers must ensure that all objects accessed during RPC processing are validated for existence and integrity prior to use. Additionally, deploying network-level access controls such as firewalls or intrusion prevention systems can restrict exposure of the license manager service to only trusted IP ranges until a permanent code fix is applied. Regular security audits focusing on memory safety in C-based services and adopting static analysis tools that detect potential null dereferences during development are also recommended preventive measures against similar classes of vulnerabilities.