NASA CryptoLib up to 1.4.2 Link Security Protocol convert_hexstring_to_byte_array IV/ARSN/ABM heap-based overflow

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in NASA CryptoLib up to 1.4.2. Affected is the function convert_hexstring_to_byte_array of the component Link Security Protocol. This manipulation of the argument IV/ARSN/ABM causes heap-based overflow. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2026-22027. The attack needs to be launched locally. No exploit is available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in NASA CryptoLib up to 1.4.2. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function convert_hexstring_to_byte_array of the component Link Security Protocol. The manipulation of the argument IV/ARSN/ABM with an unknown input leads to a heap-based overflow vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-122. A heap overflow condition is a buffer overflow, where the buffer that can be overwritten is allocated in the heap portion of memory, generally meaning that the buffer was allocated using a routine such as malloc(). As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

CryptoLib provides a software-only solution using the CCSDS Space Data Link Security Protocol - Extended Procedures (SDLS-EP) to secure communications between a spacecraft running the core Flight System (cFS) and a ground station. Prior to version 1.4.3, the convert_hexstring_to_byte_array() function in the MariaDB SA interface writes decoded bytes into a caller-provided buffer without any capacity check. When importing SA fields from the database (e.g., IV, ARSN, ABM), a malformed or oversized hex string in the database can overflow the destination buffer, corrupting adjacent heap memory. This issue has been patched in version 1.4.3.

The advisory is shared at github.com. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-22027 since 01/05/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. An attack has to be approached locally. The exploitation requires an enhanced level of successful authentication. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 1.4.3 eliminates this vulnerability. The upgrade is hosted for download at github.com. Applying the patch 2372efd3da1ccb226b4297222e25f41ecc84821d is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at github.com. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at EUVD (EUVD-2026-1889). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Productinfo

Vendor

• NASA

Name

• CryptoLib

Version

• 1.4.0
• 1.4.1
• 1.4.2

License

• open-source

Website

• Product: https://github.com/nasa/CryptoLib/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Discussion