CVE-2026-15892 (GCVE-0-2026-15892)
Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-09-13 22:46 – Updated: 2026-09-14 11:19
VLAI
EPSS
VEX
Title
Heap memory leak in mcumgr settings-management handlers on access-hook rejection leads to denial of service
Summary
The mcumgr SMP settings-management group handlers settings_mgmt_read(), settings_mgmt_write(), and settings_mgmt_delete() in subsys/mgmt/mcumgr/grp/settings_mgmt/src/settings_mgmt.c allocate a key_name buffer (and, for read, a data buffer) via k_malloc() when CONFIG_MCUMGR_GRP_SETTINGS_BUFFER_TYPE_HEAP is enabled, relying on the end: label to k_free() them. When CONFIG_MCUMGR_GRP_SETTINGS_ACCESS_HOOK is also enabled and the application access hook rejects a request by returning status MGMT_CB_ERROR_RC, the handler executed return ret_rc; directly, bypassing end: and leaking the heap allocation on every rejected request.
The settings handlers are reachable over the unauthenticated SMP transport (Bluetooth LE, UART, or UDP, depending on product configuration). The access hook is the mechanism applications use to deny unauthorized settings access, and MGMT_CB_ERROR_RC is a common rejection style, so an attacker who can send settings read/write/delete commands that the hook rejects triggers a heap leak on each attempt.
Because the leaked memory is never reclaimed until reboot, a sustained stream of rejected requests monotonically exhausts the kernel heap until k_malloc() fails, denying mcumgr service and impacting any other heap consumer on the device — a denial of service. The impact is availability-only; there is no memory corruption or information disclosure. Only configurations that select the heap buffer type, enable the access hook, and register a hook that returns MGMT_CB_ERROR_RC are affected (the default stack buffer type cannot leak).
Severity
5.3 (Medium)
SSVC
Exploitation: none
Automatable: yes
Technical Impact: partial
CISA Coordinator · CISA-ADP (v2.0.3)
Decision recorded 2026-09-14 11:12 UTC
CWE
- CWE-401 - dos
Assigner
References
2 references
Impacted products
1 product
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| zephyrproject | zephyr |
Affected:
3.5.0 , < 4.4.2
(semver)
|
guessed |
{
"containers": {
"adp": [
{
"metrics": [
{
"other": {
"content": {
"id": "CVE-2026-15892",
"options": [
{
"Exploitation": "none"
},
{
"Automatable": "yes"
},
{
"Technical Impact": "partial"
}
],
"role": "CISA Coordinator",
"timestamp": "2026-09-14T11:12:07.138938Z",
"version": "2.0.3"
},
"type": "ssvc"
}
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2026-09-14T11:19:51.194Z",
"orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
"shortName": "CISA-ADP"
},
"title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
}
],
"cna": {
"affected": [
{
"collectionURL": "https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr",
"defaultStatus": "unaffected",
"packageName": "zephyr",
"product": "zephyr",
"programFiles": [
"subsys/mgmt/mcumgr/grp/settings_mgmt/src/settings_mgmt.c"
],
"programRoutines": [
{
"name": "settings_mgmt_delete"
},
{
"name": "settings_mgmt_read"
},
{
"name": "settings_mgmt_write"
}
],
"vendor": "zephyrproject",
"versions": [
{
"lessThan": "4.4.2",
"status": "affected",
"version": "3.5.0",
"versionType": "semver"
}
]
}
],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "The mcumgr SMP settings-management group handlers settings_mgmt_read(), settings_mgmt_write(), and settings_mgmt_delete() in subsys/mgmt/mcumgr/grp/settings_mgmt/src/settings_mgmt.c allocate a key_name buffer (and, for read, a data buffer) via k_malloc() when CONFIG_MCUMGR_GRP_SETTINGS_BUFFER_TYPE_HEAP is enabled, relying on the end: label to k_free() them. When CONFIG_MCUMGR_GRP_SETTINGS_ACCESS_HOOK is also enabled and the application access hook rejects a request by returning status MGMT_CB_ERROR_RC, the handler executed return ret_rc; directly, bypassing end: and leaking the heap allocation on every rejected request.\n\nThe settings handlers are reachable over the unauthenticated SMP transport (Bluetooth LE, UART, or UDP, depending on product configuration). The access hook is the mechanism applications use to deny unauthorized settings access, and MGMT_CB_ERROR_RC is a common rejection style, so an attacker who can send settings read/write/delete commands that the hook rejects triggers a heap leak on each attempt.\n\nBecause the leaked memory is never reclaimed until reboot, a sustained stream of rejected requests monotonically exhausts the kernel heap until k_malloc() fails, denying mcumgr service and impacting any other heap consumer on the device \u2014 a denial of service. The impact is availability-only; there is no memory corruption or information disclosure. Only configurations that select the heap buffer type, enable the access hook, and register a hook that returns MGMT_CB_ERROR_RC are affected (the default stack buffer type cannot leak)."
}
],
"metrics": [
{
"cvssV3_1": {
"baseScore": 5.3,
"baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L",
"version": "3.1"
},
"format": "CVSS"
}
],
"problemTypes": [
{
"descriptions": [
{
"cweId": "CWE-401",
"description": "dos",
"lang": "en",
"type": "CWE"
}
]
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2026-09-13T22:46:16.325Z",
"orgId": "e2e69745-5e70-4e92-8431-deb5529a81ad",
"shortName": "zephyr"
},
"references": [
{
"name": "Fix commit",
"tags": [
"patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/commit/fabc488d5b44143e5bd70dd373182c4395a816b9"
},
{
"name": "GHSA-rq68-wgv4-hcq3",
"url": "https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/security/advisories/GHSA-rq68-wgv4-hcq3"
}
],
"title": "Heap memory leak in mcumgr settings-management handlers on access-hook rejection leads to denial of service",
"x_generator": {
"engine": "cvelib 1.8.0"
}
}
},
"cveMetadata": {
"assignerOrgId": "e2e69745-5e70-4e92-8431-deb5529a81ad",
"assignerShortName": "zephyr",
"cveId": "CVE-2026-15892",
"datePublished": "2026-09-13T22:46:16.325Z",
"dateReserved": "2026-07-15T17:38:08.763Z",
"dateUpdated": "2026-09-14T11:19:51.194Z",
"state": "PUBLISHED"
},
"dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
"dataVersion": "5.2",
"vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
"epss": {
"cve": "CVE-2026-15892",
"date": "2026-09-15",
"epss": "0.00275",
"percentile": "0.19942"
},
"nvd": "{\"cve\":{\"id\":\"CVE-2026-15892\",\"sourceIdentifier\":\"vulnerabilities@zephyrproject.org\",\"published\":\"2026-09-13T23:16:28.023\",\"lastModified\":\"2026-09-14T21:10:41.650\",\"vulnStatus\":\"Awaiting Analysis\",\"cveTags\":[],\"descriptions\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"The mcumgr SMP settings-management group handlers settings_mgmt_read(), settings_mgmt_write(), and settings_mgmt_delete() in subsys/mgmt/mcumgr/grp/settings_mgmt/src/settings_mgmt.c allocate a key_name buffer (and, for read, a data buffer) via k_malloc() when CONFIG_MCUMGR_GRP_SETTINGS_BUFFER_TYPE_HEAP is enabled, relying on the end: label to k_free() them. When CONFIG_MCUMGR_GRP_SETTINGS_ACCESS_HOOK is also enabled and the application access hook rejects a request by returning status MGMT_CB_ERROR_RC, the handler executed return ret_rc; directly, bypassing end: and leaking the heap allocation on every rejected request.\\n\\nThe settings handlers are reachable over the unauthenticated SMP transport (Bluetooth LE, UART, or UDP, depending on product configuration). The access hook is the mechanism applications use to deny unauthorized settings access, and MGMT_CB_ERROR_RC is a common rejection style, so an attacker who can send settings read/write/delete commands that the hook rejects triggers a heap leak on each attempt.\\n\\nBecause the leaked memory is never reclaimed until reboot, a sustained stream of rejected requests monotonically exhausts the kernel heap until k_malloc() fails, denying mcumgr service and impacting any other heap consumer on the device \u2014 a denial of service. The impact is availability-only; there is no memory corruption or information disclosure. Only configurations that select the heap buffer type, enable the access hook, and register a hook that returns MGMT_CB_ERROR_RC are affected (the default stack buffer type cannot leak).\"}],\"affected\":[{\"source\":\"vulnerabilities@zephyrproject.org\",\"affectedData\":[{\"vendor\":\"zephyrproject\",\"product\":\"zephyr\",\"defaultStatus\":\"unaffected\",\"collectionURL\":\"https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr\",\"packageName\":\"zephyr\",\"programFiles\":[\"subsys/mgmt/mcumgr/grp/settings_mgmt/src/settings_mgmt.c\"],\"programRoutines\":[{\"name\":\"settings_mgmt_delete\"},{\"name\":\"settings_mgmt_read\"},{\"name\":\"settings_mgmt_write\"}],\"versions\":[{\"version\":\"3.5.0\",\"lessThan\":\"4.4.2\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"affected\"}]}]}],\"metrics\":{\"cvssMetricV31\":[{\"source\":\"vulnerabilities@zephyrproject.org\",\"type\":\"Secondary\",\"cvssData\":{\"version\":\"3.1\",\"vectorString\":\"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L\",\"baseScore\":5.3,\"baseSeverity\":\"MEDIUM\",\"attackVector\":\"NETWORK\",\"attackComplexity\":\"LOW\",\"privilegesRequired\":\"NONE\",\"userInteraction\":\"NONE\",\"scope\":\"UNCHANGED\",\"confidentialityImpact\":\"NONE\",\"integrityImpact\":\"NONE\",\"availabilityImpact\":\"LOW\"},\"exploitabilityScore\":3.9,\"impactScore\":1.4}],\"ssvcV203\":[{\"source\":\"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0\",\"ssvcData\":{\"timestamp\":\"2026-09-14T11:12:07.138938Z\",\"id\":\"CVE-2026-15892\",\"options\":[{\"exploitation\":\"none\"},{\"automatable\":\"yes\"},{\"technicalImpact\":\"partial\"}],\"role\":\"CISA Coordinator\",\"version\":\"2.0.3\"}}]},\"weaknesses\":[{\"source\":\"vulnerabilities@zephyrproject.org\",\"type\":\"Secondary\",\"description\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"CWE-401\"}]}],\"references\":[{\"url\":\"https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/commit/fabc488d5b44143e5bd70dd373182c4395a816b9\",\"source\":\"vulnerabilities@zephyrproject.org\"},{\"url\":\"https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/security/advisories/GHSA-rq68-wgv4-hcq3\",\"source\":\"vulnerabilities@zephyrproject.org\"}]}}",
"vulnrichment": {
"containers": "{\"cna\": {\"title\": \"Heap memory leak in mcumgr settings-management handlers on access-hook rejection leads to denial of service\", \"metrics\": [{\"format\": \"CVSS\", \"cvssV3_1\": {\"version\": \"3.1\", \"baseScore\": 5.3, \"baseSeverity\": \"MEDIUM\", \"vectorString\": \"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L\"}}], \"affected\": [{\"vendor\": \"zephyrproject\", \"product\": \"zephyr\", \"versions\": [{\"status\": \"affected\", \"version\": \"3.5.0\", \"lessThan\": \"4.4.2\", \"versionType\": \"semver\"}], \"packageName\": \"zephyr\", \"programFiles\": [\"subsys/mgmt/mcumgr/grp/settings_mgmt/src/settings_mgmt.c\"], \"collectionURL\": \"https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr\", \"defaultStatus\": \"unaffected\", \"programRoutines\": [{\"name\": \"settings_mgmt_delete\"}, {\"name\": \"settings_mgmt_read\"}, {\"name\": \"settings_mgmt_write\"}]}], \"references\": [{\"url\": \"https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/commit/fabc488d5b44143e5bd70dd373182c4395a816b9\", \"name\": \"Fix commit\", \"tags\": [\"patch\"]}, {\"url\": \"https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/security/advisories/GHSA-rq68-wgv4-hcq3\", \"name\": \"GHSA-rq68-wgv4-hcq3\"}], \"x_generator\": {\"engine\": \"cvelib 1.8.0\"}, \"descriptions\": [{\"lang\": \"en\", \"value\": \"The mcumgr SMP settings-management group handlers settings_mgmt_read(), settings_mgmt_write(), and settings_mgmt_delete() in subsys/mgmt/mcumgr/grp/settings_mgmt/src/settings_mgmt.c allocate a key_name buffer (and, for read, a data buffer) via k_malloc() when CONFIG_MCUMGR_GRP_SETTINGS_BUFFER_TYPE_HEAP is enabled, relying on the end: label to k_free() them. When CONFIG_MCUMGR_GRP_SETTINGS_ACCESS_HOOK is also enabled and the application access hook rejects a request by returning status MGMT_CB_ERROR_RC, the handler executed return ret_rc; directly, bypassing end: and leaking the heap allocation on every rejected request.\\n\\nThe settings handlers are reachable over the unauthenticated SMP transport (Bluetooth LE, UART, or UDP, depending on product configuration). The access hook is the mechanism applications use to deny unauthorized settings access, and MGMT_CB_ERROR_RC is a common rejection style, so an attacker who can send settings read/write/delete commands that the hook rejects triggers a heap leak on each attempt.\\n\\nBecause the leaked memory is never reclaimed until reboot, a sustained stream of rejected requests monotonically exhausts the kernel heap until k_malloc() fails, denying mcumgr service and impacting any other heap consumer on the device \\u2014 a denial of service. The impact is availability-only; there is no memory corruption or information disclosure. Only configurations that select the heap buffer type, enable the access hook, and register a hook that returns MGMT_CB_ERROR_RC are affected (the default stack buffer type cannot leak).\"}], \"problemTypes\": [{\"descriptions\": [{\"lang\": \"en\", \"type\": \"CWE\", \"cweId\": \"CWE-401\", \"description\": \"dos\"}]}], \"providerMetadata\": {\"orgId\": \"e2e69745-5e70-4e92-8431-deb5529a81ad\", \"shortName\": \"zephyr\", \"dateUpdated\": \"2026-09-13T22:46:16.325Z\"}}, \"adp\": [{\"title\": \"CISA ADP Vulnrichment\", \"metrics\": [{\"other\": {\"type\": \"ssvc\", \"content\": {\"id\": \"CVE-2026-15892\", \"role\": \"CISA Coordinator\", \"options\": [{\"Exploitation\": \"none\"}, {\"Automatable\": \"yes\"}, {\"Technical Impact\": \"partial\"}], \"version\": \"2.0.3\", \"timestamp\": \"2026-09-14T11:12:07.138938Z\"}}}], \"providerMetadata\": {\"shortName\": \"CISA-ADP\", \"orgId\": \"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0\", \"dateUpdated\": \"2026-09-14T11:14:55.476Z\"}}]}",
"cveMetadata": "{\"cveId\": \"CVE-2026-15892\", \"state\": \"PUBLISHED\", \"dateUpdated\": \"2026-09-13T22:46:16.325Z\", \"dateReserved\": \"2026-07-15T17:38:08.763Z\", \"assignerOrgId\": \"e2e69745-5e70-4e92-8431-deb5529a81ad\", \"datePublished\": \"2026-09-13T22:46:16.325Z\", \"assignerShortName\": \"zephyr\"}",
"dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
"dataVersion": "5.2"
}
}
}
Loading…
Loading…
Experimental. This forecast is provided for visualization only and may change without notice. Do not use it for operational decisions.
Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.
Sightings
| Author | Source | Type | Date | Other |
|---|
Nomenclature
- Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
- Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
- Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
- Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
- Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Loading…
The MITRE ATT&CK techniques below are AI-generated suggestions, inferred from the description of the
vulnerability by the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-classification-roberta-base
model, served locally by ML-Gateway.
They have not been verified by an analyst and are provided for guidance only.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.
Loading…
Related by attack behaviour
Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.
Loading…