PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief
CVE-2026-45160 espressif CVE debrief
CVE-2026-45160 is an out-of-bounds read flaw 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.
- Vendor
- espressif
- Product
- esp-idf
- CVSS
- MEDIUM 6.5
- CISA KEV
- Not listed in stored evidence
- Original CVE published
- 2026-06-10
- Original CVE updated
- 2026-06-11
- Advisory published
- 2026-06-10
- Advisory updated
- 2026-06-11
Who should care
Users of Espressif ESP-IDF versions 5.2.7, 5.3.5, 5.4.4, 5.5.4, and 6.0.1 who use the DHCP server feature, especially in SoftAP configurations or where the device acts as a DHCP server on a local network.
Technical summary
The vulnerability exists in the DHCP server option parser. It allows an attacker to send a crafted DHCP request that can cause the parser to read past the end of the options buffer into adjacent heap memory, potentially leading to information disclosure.
Defensive priority
MEDIUM
Recommended defensive actions
- Upgrade to a patched version of ESP-IDF: 5.2.8, 5.3.6, 5.4.5, 5.5.5, or 6.0.2, or later.
- Avoid using affected versions of ESP-IDF in configurations where the device runs as a DHCP server on a local network.
Evidence notes
The CVE-2026-45160 issue has been patched in versions 5.2.8, 5.3.6, 5.4.5, 5.5.5, and 6.0.2 of ESP-IDF.
Sources and references
Verified primary and authoritative sources
-
CVE-2026-45160 CVE Program record
Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified
URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-45160
CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.
-
CVE-2026-45160 NVD vulnerability detail
Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified
URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-45160
NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.
Supplemental references
-
Mitigation or vendor reference
Unverified legacy reference
URL: https://github.com/espressif/esp-idf/commit/2bf4dd12002dbae60a4b21abff010ecb2b8ee82b
[email protected] - Patch
-
Mitigation or vendor reference
Unverified legacy reference
URL: https://github.com/espressif/esp-idf/commit/2da2db43fd7e0bcff9e7b95f54f388296bb6f911
[email protected] - Patch
-
Mitigation or vendor reference
Unverified legacy reference
URL: https://github.com/espressif/esp-idf/commit/8b4b5d5301815198d177974ffc24848f47748248
[email protected] - Patch
-
Mitigation or vendor reference
Unverified legacy reference
URL: https://github.com/espressif/esp-idf/commit/9f713dbc94982d917f2d12964b233cd9efa4aeba
[email protected] - Patch
-
Mitigation or vendor reference
Unverified legacy reference
URL: https://github.com/espressif/esp-idf/commit/d51b1076092487e533eadf8b48c9c8579d3a6712
[email protected] - Patch
-
Mitigation or vendor reference
Unverified legacy reference
URL: https://github.com/espressif/esp-idf/commit/fba5f995436a3e3139f768b6d8f1a74d5ce1d318
[email protected] - Patch
-
Mitigation or vendor reference
Unverified legacy reference
URL: https://github.com/espressif/esp-idf/security/advisories/GHSA-g764-gwc3-75m5
[email protected] - Mitigation, Patch, Vendor Advisory
Methodology and review provenance
AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.