CVE-2026-78002
Description
A flaw was found in rsyslog. An unauthenticated remote attacker can trigger a heap buffer overflow in the RainerScript replace() function by sending specially crafted syslog messages. This vulnerability arises from an incorrect buffer size calculation during string replacement, causing memory corruption. Successful exploitation can lead to a denial of service (DoS) for the affected system.
Statement
This Important flaw in rsyslog allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to trigger a heap buffer overflow, leading to a denial of service. The vulnerability occurs when processing specially crafted syslog messages containing specific RainerScript replace() function calls. Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems configured to receive remote syslog messages are susceptible to this issue, potentially impacting logging availability.
Mitigation
To mitigate this vulnerability, restrict network access to the rsyslog service to only trusted hosts. This can be achieved by configuring firewall rules to limit incoming connections to UDP and TCP port 514. Alternatively, if remote syslog reception is not required, disable the `imudp` and `imtcp` modules in the `/etc/rsyslog.conf` configuration file. After modifying the rsyslog configuration or firewall rules, the rsyslog service or firewall service must be restarted for the changes to take effect.
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 | 7.5 | N/A | 7.5 |
| Attack Vector | Network | N/A | Network |
| Attack Complexity | Low | N/A | Low |
| Privileges Required | None | N/A | None |
| User Interaction | None | N/A | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | N/A | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | None | N/A | None |
| Integrity Impact | None | N/A | None |
| Availability Impact | High | N/A | High |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Integrity,Availability,Confidentiality
Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart; Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands; Read Memory; Modify Memory
If the incorrect calculation is used in the context of memory allocation, then the software may create a buffer that is smaller or larger than expected. If the allocated buffer is smaller than expected, this could lead to an out-of-bounds read or write (CWE-119), possibly causing a crash, allowing arbitrary code execution, or exposing sensitive data.
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