CVE-2026-22024: CryptoLib Memory Leak DoS Vulnerability

CVE-2026-22024 Overview

CVE-2026-22024 is a memory leak vulnerability in NASA's CryptoLib, a software-only solution that implements the CCSDS Space Data Link Security Protocol - Extended Procedures (SDLS-EP) to secure communications between spacecraft running the core Flight System (cFS) and ground stations. Prior to version 1.4.3, the cryptography_encrypt() function allocates multiple buffers for HTTP requests and JSON parsing that are never freed on any code path, resulting in approximately 400 bytes of memory leaked per call. Sustained traffic can gradually exhaust available memory, leading to denial of service conditions.

Critical Impact

Sustained network traffic targeting the vulnerable encryption function can exhaust system memory on spacecraft or ground station systems, potentially disrupting critical space-to-ground communications.

Affected Products

• NASA CryptoLib versions prior to 1.4.3
• Systems implementing CCSDS SDLS-EP using vulnerable CryptoLib versions
• Core Flight System (cFS) deployments utilizing affected CryptoLib releases

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-10 - CVE CVE-2026-22024 published to NVD
• 2026-01-13 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-22024

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-401 (Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime), a memory leak condition that occurs in the cryptography_encrypt() function. The function is responsible for encrypting data using the SDLS-EP protocol, and during its execution, it allocates memory buffers for HTTP request handling and JSON parsing operations. However, these buffers are never deallocated regardless of which execution path the function takes—whether the operation succeeds, fails, or encounters an exception.

The memory leak of approximately 400 bytes per function call may seem insignificant in isolation, but in the context of spacecraft communications where the encryption function may be called frequently for telemetry and command data, the cumulative effect can be severe. Over time, this leads to memory exhaustion, which can cause system instability or complete denial of service.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper memory management within the cryptography_encrypt() function. When the function allocates buffers for HTTP request construction and JSON response parsing, the corresponding free() calls are missing from all code paths. This is a classic memory leak pattern where dynamic memory allocation occurs without proper cleanup routines being implemented. The absence of memory deallocation affects every invocation of the function, making this a systematic issue rather than a conditional one.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploitable via network-based attacks. An attacker with network access to a system running vulnerable CryptoLib versions can send sustained traffic that triggers repeated calls to the cryptography_encrypt() function. Each call leaks memory, and by maintaining a high volume of requests over time, the attacker can gradually exhaust the available memory on the target system.

The attack does not require authentication or user interaction, and can be executed remotely. The complexity is low since the attacker simply needs to generate traffic that causes the vulnerable function to be invoked repeatedly. While the attack does not directly compromise confidentiality or integrity, the availability impact can be significant in mission-critical space communication systems.

The vulnerability mechanism involves buffer allocation without corresponding deallocation. Each call to cryptography_encrypt() creates memory allocations for HTTP request buffers and JSON parsing structures that persist in memory indefinitely. For technical details on the specific code paths affected, refer to the GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-r3wg-g8xv-gxvf.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-22024

Indicators of Compromise

• Gradual increase in memory consumption on systems running CryptoLib-based applications
• System slowdowns or unresponsiveness in spacecraft communication components
• Out-of-memory errors or crashes in cFS-based applications
• Abnormal memory allocation patterns in process monitoring tools

Detection Strategies

• Monitor memory usage trends for processes utilizing CryptoLib encryption functions
• Implement memory profiling tools such as Valgrind or AddressSanitizer to detect unreleased allocations
• Set up alerting thresholds for memory consumption on critical communication systems
• Review application logs for out-of-memory exceptions or allocation failures

Monitoring Recommendations

• Establish baseline memory usage for CryptoLib-dependent applications and alert on deviations
• Deploy continuous memory monitoring on spacecraft ground station systems
• Configure automated memory usage reports for mission-critical communication infrastructure
• Implement heap analysis tools to track allocation patterns over extended operational periods

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-22024

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade NASA CryptoLib to version 1.4.3 or later immediately
• Implement memory monitoring on systems running vulnerable versions until patching is complete
• Consider restarting affected services periodically as a temporary measure to reclaim leaked memory
• Review and prioritize patching for any mission-critical spacecraft communication systems

Patch Information

NASA has addressed this vulnerability in CryptoLib version 1.4.3. The fix ensures that all memory buffers allocated in the cryptography_encrypt() function are properly freed. Organizations should upgrade to version 1.4.3 or later to remediate this vulnerability. The patch is available via the GitHub Release v1.4.3, and the specific commit addressing this issue can be reviewed at GitHub Commit 2372efd.

Workarounds

• Implement periodic service restarts to reclaim leaked memory if immediate patching is not feasible
• Deploy memory usage monitoring with automated alerts to detect approaching resource exhaustion
• Consider rate-limiting network traffic to reduce the frequency of encryption function calls
• Isolate vulnerable systems from untrusted network segments to limit attacker access

# Upgrade CryptoLib to patched version
git clone https://github.com/nasa/CryptoLib.git
cd CryptoLib
git checkout v1.4.3
mkdir build && cd build
cmake ..
make
make install