CVE-2026-79836 in NonStop SQL
Summary
by MITRE • 10/15/2026
A vulnerability HPE NonStop SQL/MX Run-Time Statistics may allow an attacker to cause memory corruption and null pointer dereference, potentially leading to process crash, DoS or information disclosure.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2026
The identified vulnerability resides within the run-time statistics subsystem of HPE NonStop SQL/MX, a robust database management system designed for high-availability transaction processing environments. This specific flaw is characterized by improper memory handling during the collection and processing of statistical data regarding query execution performance. When an attacker interacts with this component through crafted inputs or maliciously timed requests, they can trigger conditions that lead to critical memory corruption errors. The primary technical manifestation of this defect involves a null pointer dereference scenario, where the application attempts to access a memory address that has not been properly initialized or allocated due to logical errors in how statistical metrics are tracked and referenced during runtime operations.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-476, which denotes NULL Pointer Dereference, often coupled with elements of CWE-120 Buffer Overflow if memory corruption extends beyond simple pointer issues. The root cause typically stems from insufficient validation checks before accessing pointers that are expected to point to valid data structures containing statistical information. In complex database systems like SQL/MX, the run-time statistics module continuously monitors various performance indicators such as query execution times, resource usage, and I/O operations. If an attacker can manipulate the state of these metrics or inject malformed data into the logging mechanisms, they may cause the system to reference a null pointer when attempting to update or retrieve this information. This logical flaw bypasses standard safety checks that would normally prevent access to invalid memory locations, thereby destabilizing the application process.
The operational impact of exploiting this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on HPE NonStop SQL/MX for mission-critical workloads. A successful exploitation can lead directly to a denial of service condition by causing the database server process to crash unexpectedly. In high-availability clusters, such crashes can trigger failover events that disrupt continuous operations and degrade overall system performance during recovery periods. Furthermore, depending on the specific memory layout and operating environment, the memory corruption aspect could potentially allow for information disclosure. An attacker might be able to read sensitive data from adjacent memory regions or extract internal state information that aids in further exploitation attempts. While a direct code execution vector is not explicitly confirmed in all instances of null pointer dereferences, the instability introduced by such errors creates an unpredictable environment where other security controls may fail.
This vulnerability aligns with MITRE ATT&CK technique T1499 Endpoint Denial of Service, as it involves actions that disrupt or interrupt availability to end users. It also relates to T1078 Valid Accounts if the attacker requires legitimate credentials to access the statistics interface, although remote unauthenticated exploitation is possible depending on network exposure and authentication configurations for statistical endpoints. The lack of proper input validation in handling runtime metrics represents a common pattern in legacy database systems where performance monitoring features are not subjected to rigorous security testing compared to core data processing engines.
To mitigate this risk, organizations should prioritize applying the latest vendor-provided patches or service packs that address these specific memory management flaws within the SQL/MX run-time statistics module. It is crucial to ensure that all components of the database infrastructure are updated to versions where null pointer checks and bounds checking have been implemented correctly for statistical data structures. Additionally, network segmentation strategies should be employed to restrict access to administrative interfaces and monitoring endpoints only from trusted management networks. Implementing strict input validation at the application layer can also help prevent malformed requests from reaching vulnerable code paths. Regular vulnerability assessments focused on database-specific configurations and runtime behaviors are recommended to identify similar weaknesses in other subsystems before they can be exploited by malicious actors seeking to disrupt service availability or extract sensitive information.