CVE-2026-124740
Description
A flaw was found in BusyBox's udhcpc6 DHCPv6 client. A malicious server on the local network can trigger a use-after-free condition by responding with a crafted Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv6 (DHCPv6) reply packet lacking usable address options. This issue causes the client to read stale heap memory, which can result in a Denial of Service (DoS) due to an application crash or disclose previously assigned network address data in subsequent discovery requests.
Statement
This vulnerability is classified as Moderate severity because exploitation requires an adjacent attacker on the local network link to operate a rogue DHCPv6 server, and the impact is restricted to stale heap data disclosure in outbound packets or a client denial of service. BusyBox udhcpc6 is not deployed as the default DHCP client in standard Red Hat Enterprise Linux installations, which instead rely on NetworkManager. As a result, the risk is limited to custom environments, containers, or minimal recovery images where the BusyBox DHCPv6 client is specifically executed.
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.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
The following CVSS metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 4.3 | N/A | N/A |
| Attack Vector | Adjacent Network | N/A | N/A |
| Attack Complexity | Low | N/A | N/A |
| Privileges Required | None | N/A | N/A |
| User Interaction | None | N/A | N/A |
| Scope | Unchanged | N/A | N/A |
| Confidentiality | None | N/A | N/A |
| Integrity Impact | None | N/A | N/A |
| Availability Impact | Low | N/A | N/A |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Integrity
Technical Impact: Modify Memory
The use of previously freed memory may corrupt valid data, if the memory area in question has been allocated and used properly elsewhere.
Availability
Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
If chunk consolidation occurs after the use of previously freed data, the process may crash when invalid data is used as chunk information.
Confidentiality
Technical Impact: Read Memory
Read operations on freed memory can sometimes leak sensitive information instead of causing a crash
Integrity,Confidentiality,Availability
Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
If malicious data is entered before chunk consolidation can take place, it may be possible to take advantage of a write-what-where primitive to execute arbitrary code. If the newly allocated data happens to hold a class, in C++ for example, various function pointers may be scattered within the heap data. If one of these function pointers is overwritten with an address to valid shellcode, execution of arbitrary code can be achieved.
Acknowledgements
Red Hat would like to thank ducanhluu for reporting this issue.
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