CVE-2026-45160
ESF-IDF: Out-of-bounds Read in lwIP DHCP Server Option Parser
No known exploitation. EPSS puts it in the 33rd percentile. A vendor fix is available.
What to do
The vendor has published a fix. Version details are below where the sources state them.
- Espressif Esp-idfAffected: = 5.2.7Upgrade to: not statedAffected: = 5.3.5Upgrade to: not statedAffected: = 5.4.4Upgrade to: not statedAffected: = 5.5.4Upgrade to: not stated + 1 more branchStated by: CVE record
Versions as the sources state them. Full version matrix after sign-in
What it is
From the CVE record
ESF-IDF is the Espressif Internet of Things (IOT) Development Framework. In versions 5.2.7, 5.3.5, 5.4.4, 5.5.4, and 6.0.1, an out-of-bounds read flaw exists in the DHCP server option parser (parse_options() in components/lwip/apps/dhcpserver/dhcpserver.c) shipped with ESP-IDF's lwIP component. The parser walks the BOOTP/DHCP options field without validating that each option's length byte and declared payload length stay within the received packet buffer. A crafted DHCP request can cause the parser to read past the end of the options buffer into adjacent heap memory. The issue affects the DHCP server used by ESP-IDF's SoftAP and any configuration where the device runs as a DHCP server on a local network. This issue has been patched in versions 5.2.8, 5.3.6, 5.4.5, 5.5.5, and 6.0.2.
In plain language
No plain-language summary for this CVE yet.
Exploitation
Where each signal puts this CVE on the scale from published to confirmed exploited.
- CISA KEV
Not in the catalog. CISA has not confirmed exploitation.
- Public exploits
No public exploit or proof of concept found in the sources we track.
- EPSS
0.4% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, which ranks it in the 33rd percentile of scored CVEs.
Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST.org. A probability, not a confirmation.
Lifecycle
9 events over 43 days, from the signal feeds we watch.
- Patch availableworkaround available, record updated
- Patch availableworkaround available, record updated
- Publishedweakness classified, att&ck mapped
Affected products
Technical detail
CVSS 3.1 vector
Open in the CVSS calculatorCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Scored 6.5 by NVD.
How it is reached
- Attack Vector AdjacentRequires access to the local network (e.g. same Wi-Fi, Bluetooth)
- Attack Complexity LowNo special conditions — the attack can be reliably reproduced
- Privileges Required NoneNo authentication required — anyone can exploit this
- User Interaction NoneNo user interaction needed — fully automated exploitation
Scope
- Scope UnchangedImpact is limited to the vulnerable component itself
Impact if exploited
- Confidentiality NoneNo confidentiality impact
- Integrity NoneNo integrity impact
- Availability HighTotal denial of service — the component is completely unavailable
Weaknesses
ATT&CK techniques
Mapped from the weaknesses above (CWE to ATT&CK), not observed in attacks.
Sources
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