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CVE Record

CVE-2026-22026: CryptoLib Unbounded Memory Allocation in KMC HTTP Response Handler Allows Resource Exhaustion

CryptoLib provides a software-only solution using the CCSDS Space Data Link Security Protocol - Extended Procedures (SDLS-EP) to secure communications between a spacecraft running the core Flight System (cFS) and a ground station. Prior to version 1.4.3, the libcurl write_callback function in the KMC crypto service client allows unbounded memory growth by reallocating response buffers without any size limit or overflow check. A malicious KMC server can return arbitrarily large HTTP responses, forcing the client to allocate excessive memory until the process is terminated by the OS. This issue has been patched in version 1.4.3.

HighCVSS 8.2Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2026-22026 affects NASA CryptoLib before 1.4.3. A hostile or compromised KMC server can send an oversized HTTP response that makes the client keep allocating memory until the operating system terminates it. The business impact is denial of service for systems relying on CryptoLib-protected spacecraft-to-ground communications.

Executive priority

Treat as high priority for mission or operations environments using affected CryptoLib versions. The main risk is service disruption through memory exhaustion. If CryptoLib is not present, urgency is low. If present in production communication paths, schedule prompt upgrade validation.

Technical view

The issue is an unbounded memory allocation flaw in the KMC crypto service client libcurl write_callback. Response buffers are reallocated without a size limit or overflow check. It is classified as CWE-789 with CVSS 4.0 score 8.2. The vendor states it is fixed in CryptoLib 1.4.3.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to organizations using NASA CryptoLib versions before 1.4.3, especially where the KMC crypto service client processes HTTP responses from a KMC server. Systems not using CryptoLib or not using the KMC client path are not indicated as affected by the provided sources.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show active exploitation, and this CVE is not listed as KEV. Exploitation requires the client to receive maliciously large HTTP responses from a KMC server. The result is resource exhaustion, not disclosed data theft or code execution in the provided record.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to the CVE record and NASA GitHub references. The advisory identifies the vulnerable component and patched version, but the provided bundle does not include evidence of exploitation in the wild. Avoid assuming broader NASA product exposure beyond CryptoLib before 1.4.3.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade NASA CryptoLib to version 1.4.3 or later.
  • Review the GitHub security advisory for vendor-specific guidance.
  • Inventory systems using CryptoLib in spacecraft-ground communication workflows.
  • Prioritize environments where KMC server trust or integrity is uncertain.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm deployed CryptoLib versions are 1.4.3 or later.
  • Check SBOMs and source dependencies for NASA CryptoLib before 1.4.3.
  • Verify whether the KMC crypto service client is used.
  • Review change records against the referenced fixing commit and release.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
5

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-789: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2026-22026 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
8.2 (4.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
4Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
8.2CVSS 4.0HighCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N——Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 4.0 score

8.2High
CVSS 4.0 vector shape for CVE-2026-22026Attack VectorAttack ComplexityAttack RequirementsPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionVS ConfidentialityVS IntegrityVS AvailabilitySS ConfidentialitySS IntegritySS Availability

Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Attack Requirements
NonePresent
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NonePassiveActive
VS Confidentiality
HighLowNone
VS Integrity
HighLowNone
VS Availability
HighLowNone
SS Confidentiality
HighLowNone
SS Integrity
HighLowNone
SS Availability
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
nasaCryptoLib< 1.4.3Listed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-789

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-789 · source CWE mapping

Memory Allocation with Excessive Size Value

Memory Allocation with Excessive Size Value represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

Open CWE intelligenceSame-CWE CVEs