CVE-2026-55559 — Yamcs: Remote Code Execution via instance-template argument YAML injection (createInstance)
Yamcs is a mission control framework. Prior to 5.12.8 and 5.13.2, Yamcs inserts templateArgs from POST /api/instances and PATCH /api/instances/{instance} into YAML through VarStatement.append in yamcs-core/src/main/java/org/yamcs/templating/VarStatement.java without YAML-context escaping. The rendered configuration is parsed by YamcsServer.createInstance and loaded by YamcsServerInstance, allowing an attacker to inject a services entry for org.yamcs.ProcessRunner. Deployments without security.yaml expose the operation through the guest superuser, while secured deployments require SystemPrivilege.CreateInstances. Successful exploitation executes commands as the Yamcs service account. This issue is fixed in versions 5.12.8 and 5.13.2.
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
- CISA SSVC: exploitation "poc"+5
- Automatable exploitation (SSVC)+3
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.
CISA SSVC assessment CISA
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
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 (Yamcs Yamcs).
- 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 (injection), 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).
- Look for parameters with command/query metacharacters and unexpected child processes of the service.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · yamcs/yamcs
- SSVC assessment updated
- Record published
- CVSS changed · 9.8
- Source status changed · → Awaiting Analysis
- Record created in this database
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 15, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026
References
5 on the record
- github.com/yamcs/yamcs/commit/549f295cf8c5496a5e799d6bec2432ef976c82aa
- github.com/yamcs/yamcs/releases/tag/yamcs-5.12.8
- github.com/yamcs/yamcs/security/advisories/GHSA-73mf-m39p-wpm9
- github.com/yamcs/yamcs/releases/tag/yamcs-5.13.2
- github.com/yamcs/yamcs/commit/7192da1c49bdf5ab1d72e579a47766a7c43e87c8
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Medium CVE-2026-55566 Yamcs: DOM XSS in Extension Routing Aug 28, 2026
- Critical CVE-2026-55565 Yamcs: Authenticated remote code execution via unescaped StreamSQL `LIKE` pattern compiled by Janino (`LikeExpression`) Aug 28, 2026
- High CVE-2026-55521 Yamcs : Multiple Missing Function Level Access Control vulnerabilities in Yamcs Core API Aug 28, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-55545 Yamcs: WebSocket subscription handlers omit the privilege checks their REST siblings enforce Aug 28, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-55547 Yamcs: Missing Authorization on Role and Privilege Enumeration Endpoints Allows Any Authenticated User to Disclose Full Security Configuration Aug 28, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-55549 Yamcs: Reflected XSS in the URL of the Authorize Endpoint Aug 28, 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 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-2026-55559 is "Yamcs: Remote Code Execution via instance-template argument YAML injection (createInstance)", rated Critical. It affects Yamcs (Yamcs); 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.
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