CVE-2026-49868 — RIOT: DHCPv6 client _parse_reply() missing sub-option length check leads to size_t underflow and unbounded OOB heap read
RIOT is an open-source microcontroller operating system designed for Internet of Things devices and other embedded systems. Prior to 2026.07, _parse_reply() in sys/net/application_layer/dhcpv6/client.c omits minimum-length validation before passing IA_PD and IA_NA option bodies to sub-option parsers. A malicious or compromised DHCPv6 server can send a REPLY with an option length smaller than the required structure while MODULE_DHCPV6_CLIENT_IA_PD is enabled, causing _parse_ia_pd_option to read past the option body, size_t underflow, and unbounded out-of-bounds heap reads that can crash the device and may expose or corrupt memory. This issue is fixed in version 2026.07.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- Technical severity (critical)+10
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Riot-os Riot).
- The attack is network-based and needs no privileges: restrict exposure (ACLs, VPN, WAF) until patched.
- No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
- Search available logs for exploit probes matching the vulnerability class (memory corruption), errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.8 | CVSS 3.1 | Critical | 3.9 | 5.9 | security-advisories@github.com via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 9.8 | CVSS 3.1 | Critical | — | — | GitHub_M via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H (score shown at the top: security-advisories@github.com) Weakness MITRE
Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Prioritize edge telemetry for the network-reachable component (proxy, WAF, IDS/IPS).
- Correlate service crashes/restarts with inbound traffic; repeated crashes may indicate attempts.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Source status changed · Received → Deferred
- Source status changed · Published → Received
- Record published
- CVSS changed · 9.8
- Source status changed · → Published
- Record created in this database
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 16, 2026 – Oct 16, 2026
References
4 on the record
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Critical CVE-2026-102693 RIOT: Remote Stack Buffer Overflow in ATWINC15x0 driver via unsanitized SSID 1d
- Critical CVE-2026-102692 RIOT: Potential integer overflow in nanocoap Block2 handling leading to out-of-bounds memory access 1d
- High CVE-2026-107838 RIOT: nanocoap_fileserver ignores response initialization failure, leading to reachable assertion 8d
- High CVE-2026-107837 RIOT: Out-of-Bounds Read in RIOT OS 6LoWPAN SFF Fragment Handling 8d
- High CVE-2026-107836 RIOT: nanoCoAP Block2 client slice handling underflows on inconsistent server-controlled block size 8d
- Critical CVE-2026-27703 RIOT has an Out-of-Bounds Write in nanoCoAP Handler Mar 11, 2026
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No FIRST EPSS score.
- No fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
- No CISA SSVC assessment.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-49868 is "RIOT: DHCPv6 client _parse_reply() missing sub-option length check leads to size_t underflow and unbounded OOB heap read", rated Critical. It affects Riot (Riot-os); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 9.8 describes technical severity. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
Comments
Moderated technical discussion. Read the community guidelines.
No comments yet.
Sign in or create an account to comment and suggest corrections.