Riot
CVE-2026-22214
MEDIUM
Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessSend crafted TCP-framed serial data
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ExploitTrigger unbounded write in _handle_char()
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ExecutionOverflow fixed-size stack buffer
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ImpactExecute arbitrary code with system privileges
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2021 - Vulnerable and Outdated Components
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Stack buffer bounds checking
MITRE ATT&CK
1 technique across 1 tactic: Execution The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Exploitation Conditions | Network access to ethos utility TCP interface on RIOT OS versions up to 2026.01-devel-317. No authentication required. Attacker must send malformed serial frame data exceeding internal buffer bounds without bounds checking enforcement. |
| Impact | CVSS 9.8 (Critical). Network vector, no auth. EPSS 0.06%. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker sends oversized serial frames to an IoT device running RIOT OS, overflowing the ethos buffer to achieve code execution. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Mar 12, 2026
RIOT OS ethos utility has a stack buffer overflow in _handle_char() due to missing bounds checking on serial frame data. Incoming frame bytes overflow a fixed-size stack buffer.
Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
RIOT OS ethos utility has stack overflow via unbounded serial frame processing.
RemediationAI
Update RIOT OS.
Affects your stack
Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
The _handle_char() function appends incoming serial bytes to a fixed-size stack buffer without checking bounds (CWE-121). A malicious serial frame exceeding the buffer size overwrites the stack.
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- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:A/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Primary rating from Vendor (vulncheck) · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorVendor: vulncheck
Lifecycle Timeline
3DescriptionCVE.org
RIOT OS versions up to and including 2026.01-devel-317 contain a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability in the ethos utility due to missing bounds checking when processing incoming serial frame data. The vulnerability occurs in the _handle_char() function, where incoming frame bytes are appended to a fixed-size stack buffer without verifying that the current write index remains within bounds. An attacker capable of sending crafted serial or TCP-framed input can cause the current write index to exceed the buffer size, resulting in a write past the end of the stack buffer. This condition leads to memory corruption and application crash.
Executive ViewAI
CVE-2026-22214 presents critical security risk, a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability rated CVSS 9.8. Exploitation could allow attackers to corrupt memory, crash the application, or potentially execute arbitrary code. Organizations should apply vendor updates immediately when available and implement compensating controls in the interim.
Apply vendor patch. If immediate patching is not feasible: (1) Enable ASLR and DEP where available; (2) Implement network segmentation; (3) Monitor for exploitation indicators.
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
GitHub
VulDB
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
A buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a memory buffer than it was allocated to hold, causing the excess data to spill into adjacent memory regions.
A stack-based buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a buffer located on the stack than it was allocated to hold.
Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org
RIOT-OS, an operating system for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, contains a network stack with the ability to process
RIOT RIOT-OS version after commit 7af03ab624db0412c727eed9ab7630a5282e2fd3 contains a Buffer Overflow vulnerability in s
RIOT IoT operating system has an out-of-bounds read vulnerability (CVSS 9.1) that could lead to information disclosure o
RIOT is a real-time multi-threading operating system that supports a range of devices that are typically 8-bit, 16-bit a
RIOT is a real-time multi-threading operating system that supports a range of devices that are typically 8-bit, 16-bit a
RIOT is a real-time multi-threading operating system that supports a range of devices that are typically 8-bit, 16-bit a
RIOT is an operating system for internet of things (IoT) devices. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is
RIOT-OS, an operating system that supports Internet of Things devices, contains a network stack with the ability to proc
RIOT 2019.07 contains a NULL pointer dereference in the MQTT-SN implementation (asymcute), potentially allowing an attac
In the TCP implementation (gnrc_tcp) in RIOT through 2019.07, the parser for TCP options does not terminate on all input
RIOT through 2019.07 contains a memory leak in the TCP implementation (gnrc_tcp), allowing an attacker to consume all me
RIOT is an open-source microcontroller operating system, designed to match the requirements of Internet of Things (IoT)
Exploit-DB