CVE-2026-12520

Kernel memory corruption via AT response parsing

Published Aug 18, 2026 · Updated Aug 19, 2026

Out-of-bounds write in the HL7800 modem driver in Zephyr RTOS before 4.4.2 allows attackers to corrupt kernel memory via AT responses. Multiple handlers copy modem-supplied fields into 128-byte stack buffers with net_buf_linearize() and then append a NUL at value[out_len], so an exact-length field writes one byte past the buffer; the +KCELLMEAS handler is worse because it uses the unbounded wire length as the destination size and can overflow the stack buffer outright. Exploitation requires control of modem-emitted response lines, such as through a rogue base station, compromised baseband, or injected serial framing, and can cause a crash or, on the +KCELLMEAS path, possible kernel-context code execution.

CVSS severity6.4
Medium
EPSS probability0.21%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds write in the HL7800 modem driver in Zephyr RTOS before 4.4.2 allows attackers to corrupt kernel memory via AT responses. Multiple handlers copy modem-supplied fields into 128-byte stack buffers with net_buf_linearize() and then append a NUL at value[out_len], so an exact-length field writes one byte past the buffer; the +KCELLMEAS handler is worse because it uses the unbounded wire length as the destination size and can overflow the stack buffer outright. Exploitation requires control of modem-emitted response lines, such as through a rogue base station, compromised baseband, or injected serial framing, and can cause a crash or, on the +KCELLMEAS path, possible kernel-context code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-12520
Published
Aug 18, 2026
Updated
Aug 19, 2026
Vendor
Zephyr Project
Product
Zephyr RTOS
Classifications
CWE-787
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 18, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 19, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=2.4.0 <4.4.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Zephyr Project · Zephyr RTOSversion=2.4.0 <4.4.2

Published CVSS scores

6.4Zephyr ProjectCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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