CVE-2026-14607: RT-Thread Memory Corruption in sys_getaddrinfo (Local Privilege Escalation Risk)

Technical summary

The vulnerability resides in components/lwp/lwp_syscall.c within the sys_getaddrinfo system call handler. Improper validation of the ai_addr parameter allows an unprivileged local user to write to or corrupt memory regions, violating buffer boundaries (CWE-119). The flaw is classified as improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer. Because sys_getaddrinfo is a standard POSIX system call interface, the attack surface includes any local process capable of invoking getaddrinfo with malicious address structure parameters. The memory corruption may lead to denial of service or, depending on memory layout and exploitation technique, potential code execution contexts.

Business impact

The primary business impact is system availability risk. Affected RT-Thread deployments—commonly used in embedded systems, IoT devices, and edge computing—face local denial-of-service exposure. A compromised or malicious local user can crash critical services or destabilize the operating environment. If RT-Thread is embedded in safety-critical or always-on systems (industrial controllers, network appliances, automotive edge nodes), unplanned restarts introduce operational disruption. The public availability of exploit code accelerates the window during which attackers can weaponize this flaw before patches are deployed.

Affected systems

RT-Thread versions up to 5.0.2 are confirmed vulnerable. RT-Thread is used in embedded Linux distributions, IoT platforms, and real-time operating system deployments across automotive, industrial, telecommunications, and consumer electronics sectors. Organizations running RT-Thread in production should identify affected instances immediately. The vulnerability requires local system access, so the risk is highest in multi-tenant environments, shared hosting platforms, or scenarios where untrusted users have shell access.

Exploitability

Exploitability is moderate to high in practical terms. Although the CVSS score (5.5 MEDIUM) reflects the local-only attack vector and required user privileges, the public release of exploit code significantly lowers the barrier to weaponization. An attacker with local user privileges can reliably trigger memory corruption by crafting a malicious ai_addr structure and calling sys_getaddrinfo. The attack requires no special setup, user interaction, or code execution in another context—only the ability to invoke a system call, which is a standard capability for any local process.

Remediation

Immediate actions: (1) Identify all RT-Thread deployments in your environment, particularly edge devices and embedded systems where update cycles may be slower. (2) Verify the RT-Thread version of each instance. (3) Monitor for vendor patches or pull request resolution status on the RT-Thread project repository. Once a patched version is released, schedule updates according to your change management policy. For systems where immediate patching is not feasible, implement local access controls and restrict untrusted user privileges. Disable or sandbox the getaddrinfo functionality if operationally safe for your application.

Patch guidance

Patches are pending acceptance into the RT-Thread project (pull request under review as of publication). Verify the latest patch status and availability on the official RT-Thread repository. When a patched version becomes available, test it in a non-production environment before deployment. Organizations should not deploy RT-Thread updates blindly; validate compatibility with dependent applications and firmware integrations. Subscribe to RT-Thread security advisories and watch for formal release notes that confirm the fix for CVE-2026-14607. Until an official patch is released, maintain heightened monitoring and access controls on affected systems.

Detection guidance

Network-based detection is limited because the attack is local-only and does not typically cross network boundaries. Focus on endpoint and host-based signals: (1) Monitor system logs for abnormal termination or crashes of processes invoking getaddrinfo, especially if they occur in rapid succession or from unexpected callers. (2) Use memory sanitizers (ASAN, MSAN) during testing to detect buffer overflows triggered by sys_getaddrinfo inputs. (3) Profile system call sequences: monitor for getaddrinfo calls with large or malformed address structures. (4) Correlate user login activity with system crashes—privilege escalation or lateral movement followed by process crashes may indicate exploitation. (5) Implement process accounting to track which local users are invoking getaddrinfo and from which applications or contexts.

Why prioritize this

This vulnerability merits prioritization despite its medium CVSS score due to: (1) Public exploit availability, which accelerates real-world attacks, (2) the embedded and IoT nature of RT-Thread deployments, where patch cycles are often slower than enterprise software, (3) the widespread use of getaddrinfo in network-enabled applications, making the attack surface broad, and (4) the potential for cascading failures in systems where local user compromise or malicious process execution is already a concern. Organizations should treat this as a high-priority fix for systems where local attackers or multi-tenant access is a realistic threat model.

Risk score, explained

The CVSS 3.1 score of 5.5 (MEDIUM) reflects the local attack vector (AV:L) and requirement for local user privileges (PR:L), which narrow the attack surface compared to remote vulnerabilities. However, the attack complexity is low (AC:L), meaning an attacker with local access can reliably exploit the flaw. The impact is availability loss (A:H)—memory corruption typically results in crashes—with no confidentiality or integrity impact in the base scoring. The practical risk is elevated by public exploit availability, which is not factored into CVSS but significantly increases likelihood of exploitation in real-world environments.

Frequently asked questions