Kernel privilege escalation via unrestricted memory mapping
Published Apr 18, 2026 · Updated Apr 18, 2026
Privilege escalation in NovumOS before 0.24 allows local users to execute code in kernel context by invoking Syscall 15. The MemoryMapRange handler in zig/user.zig accepts Ring 3 virtual address ranges without rejecting protected kernel regions, exposing the IDT, GDT, TSS, and page tables to user-space writes. Any user-mode process can invoke the syscall and overwrite interrupt handlers, gaining Ring 0 execution without user interaction.
Summary
What happened
Privilege escalation in NovumOS before 0.24 allows local users to execute code in kernel context by invoking Syscall 15. The MemoryMapRange handler in zig/user.zig accepts Ring 3 virtual address ranges without rejecting protected kernel regions, exposing the IDT, GDT, TSS, and page tables to user-space writes. Any user-mode process can invoke the syscall and overwrite interrupt handlers, gaining Ring 0 execution without user interaction.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-40572
- Published
- Apr 18, 2026
- Updated
- Apr 18, 2026
- Vendor
- MinecAnton209
- Product
- NovumOS
- Classifications
- CWE-269, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 18, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 18, 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=< 0.24
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Upstream Syscall 15 Zig proof of conceptproof of concept · unverified
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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