CVE-2026-67969 Overview
CVE-2026-67969 affects the HS_MonitorApplications() component of NASA Core Flight System (cFS) version 7.0.1. Attackers can force a processor reset by supplying a crafted HS.AppMon_Tbl entry to the Health and Safety (HS) application. The flaw impacts flight software built on the cFS framework, which is used across spacecraft and embedded aerospace platforms. Successful exploitation triggers an availability failure that can disrupt mission-critical processes running on the target processor.
Critical Impact
A malformed HS application monitor table entry can force a full processor reset, disrupting flight software operations built on NASA cFS v7.0.1.
Affected Products
- NASA Core Flight System (cFS) v7.0.1
- HS_MonitorApplications() component within the Health and Safety (HS) application
- Flight software distributions bundling the affected cFS release
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-08-03 - CVE-2026-67969 published to NVD
- 2026-08-03 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-67969
Vulnerability Analysis
The Core Flight System (cFS) is NASA's open-source flight software framework used to build embedded systems for spacecraft and instruments. Within cFS, the Health and Safety (HS) application monitors the state of other applications and can take corrective action when faults are detected. The HS_MonitorApplications() routine walks the HS.AppMon_Tbl table and evaluates configured actions for each entry.
CVE-2026-67969 arises when the routine processes a crafted table entry. Instead of rejecting or safely handling the malformed entry, the affected code path drives the HS application to invoke a processor reset action. This produces an availability impact on the flight software runtime and any subsystems dependent on it.
See the GitHub Issue #1069 for the upstream tracking discussion and additional technical context.
Root Cause
The root cause is insufficient validation of HS.AppMon_Tbl entries consumed by HS_MonitorApplications(). A crafted entry causes the monitor logic to reach a state where a processor reset action is executed, categorizing the issue as an input validation failure leading to denial of service.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires the attacker to supply or influence an HS.AppMon_Tbl table entry. In cFS deployments, application monitor tables are loaded via table services, which are typically reachable through ground command interfaces or file-based table loads. An attacker able to submit crafted table data to the HS application can trigger the reset condition without requiring code execution on the target.
No verified public exploit code is available. Refer to the NASA cFS Repository for source-level details of the affected component.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-67969
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected processor reset events initiated by the cFS Health and Safety application
- HS event messages indicating an application monitor action was executed against an unexpected application ID
- Recent table load commands targeting HS.AppMon_Tbl from unusual ground stations or operator accounts
Detection Strategies
- Audit all HS.AppMon_Tbl load and update commands against an approved baseline table definition
- Alert on any HS action of type processor reset that is not correlated with a known operational scenario
- Correlate reset telemetry with preceding table service activity to identify malicious or malformed uploads
Monitoring Recommendations
- Ingest cFS Event Services (EVS) telemetry into a centralized logging or SIEM platform for retention and analysis
- Track reset counters and boot cause registers on flight and test hardware to detect anomalies early
- Monitor ground-to-vehicle command paths for unauthorized use of cFE table load commands
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-67969
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict access to command paths that permit loading or modifying HS.AppMon_Tbl entries
- Validate HS.AppMon_Tbl contents against an authoritative baseline before activation
- Review recent HS-initiated processor resets on flight and lab systems for signs of exploitation
Patch Information
No fixed version has been published in the enriched CVE data at the time of writing. Track remediation status on the NASA cFS Repository and the associated GitHub Issue #1069 for updates.
Workarounds
- Enforce strict role-based access control on ground systems that issue cFE table load and activate commands
- Require cryptographic signing or checksum validation for uploaded table images prior to activation
- Disable or constrain automatic execution of processor reset actions in HS action definitions where operationally acceptable
# Configuration example
# Validate an HS AppMon table image against a known-good baseline before activation
sha256sum HS_AppMon_Tbl.tbl
diff <(xxd HS_AppMon_Tbl.tbl) <(xxd baseline/HS_AppMon_Tbl.tbl)
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
