CVE-2026-77532 in EdgeMAX EdgeSwitch
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2026
A malicious actor with access to an adjacent network could exploit a Buffer Overflow vulnerability found in a DHCPv6-enabled EdgeMAX EdgeSwitch to initiate a Remote Code Execution on such device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2026
The discovery of a buffer overflow vulnerability within the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol version six service of certain EdgeMAX EdgeSwitch devices presents a critical security risk for network infrastructure relying on these units. This flaw specifically affects systems where IPv6 addressing is enabled, allowing an attacker positioned on an adjacent or connected network segment to craft and transmit specially formatted DHCPv6 packets that exceed the expected buffer limits within the switch's firmware processing logic. The vulnerability stems from insufficient boundary checks during the parsing of incoming protocol messages, a classic implementation error that permits arbitrary data to overwrite adjacent memory regions. This overwriting capability is particularly dangerous as it can corrupt critical control flow data such as return addresses or function pointers stored on the stack or heap, thereby hijacking the execution path of the compromised process.
From an operational perspective, successful exploitation of this flaw enables a remote code execution attack without requiring any form of authentication or prior access to the device's management interface. An adversary with network adjacency can leverage this condition to execute arbitrary commands at the privilege level of the affected service, which typically runs with elevated system privileges on embedded networking hardware. The impact extends beyond mere control of the switch itself; it serves as a potential pivot point for lateral movement within the internal network. Once an attacker gains code execution capabilities, they may exfiltrate sensitive configuration data, manipulate routing tables to facilitate man-in-the-middle attacks, or deploy additional malware to compromise other connected devices. This scenario highlights the severe consequences of unauthenticated remote exploitation in critical infrastructure components that are often perceived as secure due to their physical placement within controlled environments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-120, which classifies buffer copy without checking size limits, and is frequently associated with CWE-787, an out-of-bounds write condition. In the context of adversary tactics and techniques, this exploitation vector corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1496, Remote Service Vulnerability Exploitation, where attackers target specific services running on remote systems to gain initial access or escalate privileges. The lack of input validation in the DHCPv6 handler represents a fundamental failure in secure coding practices, emphasizing the need for rigorous memory safety checks and bounds verification when processing network protocols that are exposed to untrusted inputs.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate patching by applying vendor-provided firmware updates that address the underlying buffer handling logic. Until patches can be deployed, organizations should implement strict access control lists on their network switches to restrict DHCPv6 traffic from adjacent or untrusted subnets, effectively isolating the vulnerable service from potential attackers. Additionally, enabling IPv6 only where strictly necessary and disabling unused services reduces the attack surface available to malicious actors. Network monitoring solutions should also be configured to detect anomalous DHCPv6 packet patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, providing an additional layer of defense in depth for critical network infrastructure.