CVE-2026-73799 in NonStop SNMP Trap Multiplexer
Summary
by MITRE • 10/15/2026
A security vulnerability in HPE NonStop SNMP Trap Multiplexer may cause memory corruption
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2026
The HPE NonStop SNMP Trap Multiplexer contains a critical flaw that can lead to heap-based buffer overflow, resulting in arbitrary code execution or denial of service conditions for the affected system. This component is responsible for aggregating and forwarding Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) trap messages from various sources within an enterprise network infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of input data lengths during the processing of incoming SNMP packets. When a specially crafted packet with oversized fields is received, the multiplexer fails to properly check buffer boundaries before copying the data into memory structures. This lack of bounds checking allows an attacker to write beyond the allocated heap space, corrupting adjacent memory regions and potentially overwriting critical control data such as function pointers or exception handlers.
From a technical perspective, this flaw aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) identifiers including CWE-120 Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input and CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write. The exploitation vector typically involves sending malformed SNMP trap messages to the specific port used by the multiplexer service. If successful, an attacker could achieve remote code execution with the privileges of the process running the SNMP Trap Multiplexer, which often requires elevated system rights on HPE NonStop systems. Alternatively, if the memory corruption causes a crash in the processing thread without leading to code execution, it results in a denial of service by disrupting network monitoring capabilities and potentially causing instability in dependent management applications that rely on continuous trap ingestion.
The operational impact extends beyond immediate system compromise or downtime. In environments where HPE NonStop systems are used for high-availability transaction processing, the disruption of SNMP monitoring can obscure early warning signs of hardware failures or performance degradation. Furthermore, if an attacker gains code execution through this vulnerability, they may use it as a foothold to pivot into other parts of the network, leveraging the trusted status of management interfaces to escalate privileges further. This aligns with MITRE ATT&CK techniques such as T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter for initial access or lateral movement via established services, and potentially T1482 Discovery if used to map internal network structures through SNMP queries after gaining control.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching using vendor-provided updates that address the buffer validation logic within the SNMP Trap Multiplexer component. In cases where patches are not immediately available, administrators can implement strict firewall rules to restrict access to the SNMP service ports from untrusted networks or specific source IP addresses known for malicious activity. Additionally, enabling deep packet inspection on network security appliances may help detect and block malformed packets attempting to exploit this buffer overflow condition before they reach the vulnerable application layer. Regular auditing of system logs for unusual memory usage patterns or process crashes can also aid in early detection of exploitation attempts.