7.8
HIGH CVSS 3.1
CVE-2026-10669
Xtensa MPU `arch_buffer_validate()` integer-overflow lets a user thread bypass syscall pointer validation
Description

On Xtensa SoCs built with CONFIG_XTENSA_MPU and CONFIG_USERSPACE, arch_buffer_validate() in arch/xtensa/core/mpu.c — the architecture hook that verifies a user-mode-supplied buffer is accessible to the calling user thread with the requested permission — defaulted its return value to 0 (access permitted) and only set a denial result inside its per-MPU-region probe loop. When the rounded extent of the buffer wraps the 32-bit address space (size + alignment offset near SIZE_MAX, or ROUND_UP(size + offset) overflowing to 0), the loop executes zero iterations and the function returns 0 = permitted without probing any MPU region. The syscall-layer pre-checks (K_SYSCALL_MEMORY_SIZE_CHECK / Z_DETECT_POINTER_OVERFLOW) only catch a raw addr+size wrap and do not cover the ROUND_UP-induced wrap, and the string path (arch_user_string_nlen -> arch_buffer_validate) has no syscall-layer guard at all. An unprivileged user-mode thread can therefore pass a crafted (addr, size) to any syscall that validates user buffers via k_usermode_from_copy/to_copy or k_usermode_string_copy and have validation succeed for memory it must not access; the kernel then reads from (disclosure) or, with write=1, writes to (corruption) attacker-chosen kernel or other-partition memory on the thread's behalf, enabling information disclosure, memory corruption, privilege escalation, and denial of service. Affected from v3.7.0 (when Xtensa MPU userspace support was added) through v4.4.0. The fix changes the default to -EINVAL (deny by default), adds an explicit size_add_overflow check, and sets the success value only after the full range has been validated.

INFO

Published Date :

July 14, 2026, 3:16 p.m.

Last Modified :

Oct. 24, 2026, 9:10 p.m.

Remotely Exploit :

No
Affected Products

The following products are affected by CVE-2026-10669 vulnerability. Even if cvefeed.io is aware of the exact versions of the products that are affected, the information is not represented in the table below.

ID Vendor Product Action
1 Zephyrproject zephyr
2 Zephyrproject zephyr
CVSS Scores
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System is a standardized framework for assessing the severity of vulnerabilities in software and systems. We collect and displays CVSS scores from various sources for each CVE.
Score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Score Impact Score Source
CVSS 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
CVSS 3.1 HIGH e2e69745-5e70-4e92-8431-deb5529a81ad
CVSS 3.1 HIGH [email protected]
Solution
Fix default access denial and add overflow checks for user buffer validation.
  • Update the Xtensa SoC firmware to the latest version.
  • Apply patches for arch_buffer_validate access control.
  • Ensure all syscalls validate user buffer access.
  • Perform security audits of buffer handling.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools

Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to CVE-2026-10669.

URL Resource
https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/commit/3b1bdaf5482188ca110ef9a411aaa8c7d3db3b16 Patch
https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/security/advisories/GHSA-4r4p-gh69-v6w4 Exploit Patch Vendor Advisory
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration

While CVE identifies specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-10669 is associated with the following CWEs:

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC) stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-10669 weaknesses.

We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).

Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.

The following list is the news that have been mention CVE-2026-10669 vulnerability anywhere in the article.

The following table lists the changes that have been made to the CVE-2026-10669 vulnerability over time.

Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.

  • CVE Translated by [email protected]

    Oct. 24, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added Translation Title: zephyr de zephyrproject, Description: En SoCs Xtensa construidos con CONFIG_XTENSA_MPU y CONFIG_USERSPACE, arch_buffer_validate() en arch/xtensa/core/mpu.c - el ’hook’ de arquitectura que verifica que un búfer proporcionado por el modo de usuario sea accesible para el hilo de usuario llamante con el permiso solicitado - establecía por defecto su valor de retorno en 0 (acceso permitido) y solo establecía un resultado de denegación dentro de su bucle de sondeo por región MPU. Cuando la extensión redondeada del búfer envuelve el espacio de direcciones de 32 bits (size + desplazamiento de alineación cerca de SIZE_MAX, o ROUND_UP(size + offset) desbordándose a 0), el bucle ejecuta cero iteraciones y la función devuelve 0 = permitido sin sondear ninguna región MPU. Las comprobaciones previas de la capa de llamadas al sistema (K_SYSCALL_MEMORY_SIZE_CHECK / Z_DETECT_POINTER_OVERFLOW) solo detectan un ’wrap’ de addr+size en bruto y no cubren el ’wrap’ inducido por ROUND_UP, y la ruta de cadena (arch_user_string_nlen -> arch_buffer_validate) no tiene ninguna protección a nivel de capa de llamadas al sistema. Un hilo de modo de usuario sin privilegios puede, por lo tanto, pasar un (addr, size) manipulado a cualquier llamada al sistema que valide búferes de usuario a través de k_usermode_from_copy/to_copy o k_usermode_string_copy y lograr que la validación tenga éxito para memoria a la que no debe acceder; el kernel entonces lee de (revelación) o, con write=1, escribe en (corrupción) memoria del kernel o de otra partición elegida por el atacante en nombre del hilo, lo que permite la revelación de información, la corrupción de memoria, la escalada de privilegios y la denegación de servicio. Afectado desde la v3.7.0 (cuando se añadió el soporte de espacio de usuario de Xtensa MPU) hasta la v4.4.0. La solución cambia el valor predeterminado a -EINVAL (denegar por defecto), añade una comprobación explícita de size_add_overflow y establece el valor de éxito solo después de que se haya validado el rango completo.
  • CVE Modified by [email protected]

    Oct. 15, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added Affected Affected value modified. <a href="https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/blob/main/cves/2026/10xxx/CVE-2026-10669.json">CVE-2026-10669</a>
    Added Reference https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/commit/3b1bdaf5482188ca110ef9a411aaa8c7d3db3b16
    Added Reference https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/security/advisories/GHSA-4r4p-gh69-v6w4
    Removed Reference https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/commit/3b1bdaf5482188ca110ef9a411aaa8c7d3db3b16
    Removed Reference https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/security/advisories/GHSA-4r4p-gh69-v6w4
    Removed Reference Type https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/commit/3b1bdaf5482188ca110ef9a411aaa8c7d3db3b16 Types: Patch
    Removed Reference Type https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/security/advisories/GHSA-4r4p-gh69-v6w4 Types: Exploit, Patch, Vendor Advisory
  • Initial Analysis by [email protected]

    Aug. 06, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added CWE CWE-190
    Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:o:zephyrproject:zephyr:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 3.7.0 up to (excluding) 4.5.0
    Added Reference Type Zephyr Project: https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/commit/3b1bdaf5482188ca110ef9a411aaa8c7d3db3b16 Types: Patch
    Added Reference Type Zephyr Project: https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/security/advisories/GHSA-4r4p-gh69-v6w4 Types: Exploit, Patch, Vendor Advisory
  • CVE Modified by [email protected]

    Jul. 14, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Changed Affected [{'vendor': 'zephyrproject', 'product': 'zephyr', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '3.7.0', 'lessThan': '4.5.0', 'versionType': 'semver'}], 'packageName': 'zephyr', 'collectionURL': 'https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr', 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}] [{'vendor': 'zephyrproject', 'product': 'zephyr', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '3.7.0', 'lessThan': '4.5.0', 'versionType': 'semver'}], 'packageName': 'zephyr', 'programFiles': ['arch/xtensa/core/mpu.c'], 'collectionURL': 'https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr', 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}]
  • CVE Modified by 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0

    Jul. 14, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added SSVC {'id': 'CVE-2026-10669', 'role': 'CISA Coordinator', 'options': [{'exploitation': 'none'}, {'automatable': 'no'}, {'technicalImpact': 'total'}], 'version': '2.0.3', 'timestamp': '2026-07-14T15:30:37.607534Z'}
  • New CVE Received by [email protected]

    Jul. 14, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added Affected [{'vendor': 'zephyrproject', 'product': 'zephyr', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '3.7.0', 'lessThan': '4.5.0', 'versionType': 'semver'}], 'packageName': 'zephyr', 'collectionURL': 'https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr', 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}]
    Added Description On Xtensa SoCs built with CONFIG_XTENSA_MPU and CONFIG_USERSPACE, arch_buffer_validate() in arch/xtensa/core/mpu.c — the architecture hook that verifies a user-mode-supplied buffer is accessible to the calling user thread with the requested permission — defaulted its return value to 0 (access permitted) and only set a denial result inside its per-MPU-region probe loop. When the rounded extent of the buffer wraps the 32-bit address space (size + alignment offset near SIZE_MAX, or ROUND_UP(size + offset) overflowing to 0), the loop executes zero iterations and the function returns 0 = permitted without probing any MPU region. The syscall-layer pre-checks (K_SYSCALL_MEMORY_SIZE_CHECK / Z_DETECT_POINTER_OVERFLOW) only catch a raw addr+size wrap and do not cover the ROUND_UP-induced wrap, and the string path (arch_user_string_nlen -> arch_buffer_validate) has no syscall-layer guard at all. An unprivileged user-mode thread can therefore pass a crafted (addr, size) to any syscall that validates user buffers via k_usermode_from_copy/to_copy or k_usermode_string_copy and have validation succeed for memory it must not access; the kernel then reads from (disclosure) or, with write=1, writes to (corruption) attacker-chosen kernel or other-partition memory on the thread's behalf, enabling information disclosure, memory corruption, privilege escalation, and denial of service. Affected from v3.7.0 (when Xtensa MPU userspace support was added) through v4.4.0. The fix changes the default to -EINVAL (deny by default), adds an explicit size_add_overflow check, and sets the success value only after the full range has been validated.
    Added CVSS V3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
    Added CWE CWE-787
    Added Reference https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/commit/3b1bdaf5482188ca110ef9a411aaa8c7d3db3b16
    Added Reference https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/security/advisories/GHSA-4r4p-gh69-v6w4
EPSS is a daily estimate of the probability of exploitation activity being observed over the next 30 days. Following chart shows the EPSS score history of the vulnerability.