CVE-2026-97686 in VxWorks
Summary
by MITRE • 09/28/2026
Wind River VxWorks 7 prior to 26.09, specific system call arguments can result in the IPNET subsystem failing to properly release allocated kernel memory and system file descriptors before terminating the calling application. Fixed in Version 26.09.
Security Researcher: Zhi Yang Bingren Wu Finding
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2026
The vulnerability identified in Wind River VxWorks 7 prior to version 26.09 represents a critical resource management flaw within the IPNET subsystem, which is responsible for handling Internet Protocol network operations at the kernel level. This issue arises when specific system call arguments are passed by user-space applications during execution. The core technical defect lies in the improper cleanup procedures executed before the termination of the calling application. Specifically, the operating system fails to properly release allocated kernel memory and associated system file descriptors that were acquired or modified during the processing of these malformed or edge-case inputs. This failure indicates a breakdown in the resource lifecycle management protocols inherent to the VxWorks real-time operating system architecture, where resources must be strictly scoped and released upon process exit to maintain system stability and security integrity.
From a technical perspective, this flaw constitutes an improper cleanup mechanism that leads directly to resource leaks within the kernel space. When an application terminates due to these specific argument conditions, the IPNET subsystem does not revert its state or free the memory buffers allocated for network packet processing or socket management. Similarly, file descriptors representing open connections or internal handles remain bound to the system without being closed. Over time, as multiple instances of such applications are launched and terminated, this behavior results in a progressive depletion of available kernel memory and file descriptor slots. This accumulation of unreleased resources degrades system performance and can eventually lead to resource exhaustion conditions that affect not only the affected application but potentially other critical processes running on the same VxWorks instance.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant, particularly in embedded systems where reliability and long-term uptime are paramount. The primary consequence is a denial of service resulting from resource exhaustion. As kernel memory fills up with leaked allocations, new network connections may fail to establish, existing connections may drop unexpectedly, or the entire system may become unresponsive if critical subsystems cannot allocate necessary resources for their operation. Furthermore, because file descriptors remain open, there is an increased risk of information disclosure or unauthorized access if those lingering handles point to sensitive internal structures or allow continued interaction with network services even after the initiating application has ceased execution. This undermines the isolation guarantees expected in multi-process environments and can facilitate further exploitation vectors where an attacker might leverage remaining resources to bypass security controls or disrupt critical industrial control functions dependent on stable networking capabilities.
This vulnerability aligns closely with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) standards, specifically CWE-401 which describes missing release of memory after effective lifetime, and CWE-775 which refers to missing release of file descriptor or handle after successful operation. In the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework for embedded systems, this behavior can be associated with techniques that involve resource exhaustion as a means to achieve denial of service, potentially serving as an initial vector for more complex attacks if combined with other vulnerabilities. The lack of proper cleanup also touches upon CWE-404 which involves improper system shutdown or restart, although in this case it is specifically related to process termination rather than full system reboot.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve upgrading the Wind River VxWorks environment to version 26.09 or later, where these specific resource management flaws have been addressed by the vendor through corrected cleanup routines within the IPNET subsystem. For systems that cannot be immediately upgraded, administrators should implement strict monitoring of kernel memory usage and file descriptor counts for network-related processes to detect early signs of leakage. Additionally, applying input validation at the application layer can help prevent the triggering conditions associated with these specific system call arguments, although this is a less robust defense than patching the underlying operating system component. Regular auditing of resource allocation patterns in custom applications interacting with VxWorks networking services is also recommended to ensure compliance with secure coding practices and to minimize the risk of similar issues arising from other code paths.