CVE-2026-123203
Description
A flaw was found in NEURON. A local attacker can cause a Denial of Service (DoS) and stack memory corruption by convincing a user or system to load a specially crafted model dataset containing oversized tokens. When the application parses these malformed data files, a stack-based buffer overflow occurs, crashing the process.
Statement
This vulnerability is rated as Moderate severity because successful exploitation requires local user interaction to load an untrusted or maliciously crafted dataset, preventing unassisted remote attacks. Although parsing oversized tokens within model files can trigger stack memory corruption leading to an immediate process crash, the blast radius remains limited to the individual executing simulation. Under typical deployments, the component runs as a standalone computational tool rather than an exposed listening network service, further constraining overall operational risk.
Mitigation
Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base, or stability.
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Integrity,Confidentiality,Availability
Technical Impact: Modify Memory; Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
Buffer overflows often can be used to execute arbitrary code, which is usually outside the scope of the product's implicit security policy. This can often be used to subvert any other security service.
Availability
Technical Impact: Modify Memory; DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart; DoS: Resource Consumption (CPU)
Buffer overflows generally lead to crashes. Other attacks leading to lack of availability are possible, including putting the product into an infinite loop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not sure what something means? Check out our Security Glossary.
Want to get errata notifications? Sign up here.
