Denial of service via unclamped nvs_read length
Published Aug 19, 2026 · Updated Aug 20, 2026
Out-of-bounds write in the settings NVS backend in Zephyr RTOS before 4.5.0 allows local users to crash the system via a crafted stored name entry. In settings_nvs_cache_match(), settings_nvs_load(), and settings_nvs_save(), the code uses the full length returned by nvs_read() as the index for a trailing NUL in a fixed 74-byte stack buffer, even when nvs_read() copied only a truncated prefix. Reachability is limited to actors that can persist an oversized setting name or otherwise alter the flash-backed settings partition before settings_load() or settings_save(); the practical result is a crash and limited stack corruption rather than reliable code execution.
Summary
What happened
Out-of-bounds write in the settings NVS backend in Zephyr RTOS before 4.5.0 allows local users to crash the system via a crafted stored name entry. In settings_nvs_cache_match(), settings_nvs_load(), and settings_nvs_save(), the code uses the full length returned by nvs_read() as the index for a trailing NUL in a fixed 74-byte stack buffer, even when nvs_read() copied only a truncated prefix. Reachability is limited to actors that can persist an oversized setting name or otherwise alter the flash-backed settings partition before settings_load() or settings_save(); the practical result is a crash and limited stack corruption rather than reliable code execution.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-12634
- Published
- Aug 19, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 20, 2026
- Vendor
- Zephyr Project
- Product
- Zephyr RTOS
- Classifications
- CWE-787
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 19, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 20, 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.
- Affected versionversion=2.0.0 <4.5.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- GHSA advisory proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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