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
Source :
[email protected]
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.
CVSS Scores
| 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
- 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