CVE-2026-42854: arduino-esp32: Stack buffer overflow in WebServer multipart boundary parsing leads to remote crash potential RCE

Published May 12, 2026
·
Updated

arduino-esp32 is an Arduino core for the ESP32, ESP32-S2, ESP32-S3, ESP32-C3, ESP32-C6 and ESP32-H2 microcontrollers. Prior to 3.3.8, the WebServer multipart form parser in arduino-esp32 allocates a Variable Length Array (VLA) on the stack whose size is derived from an attacker-controlled HTTP header field (Content-Type: multipart/form-data; boundary=...) without enforcing any length limit. Sending a boundary string longer than ~8000 characters overflows the 8192-byte task stack of the loopTask, causing a crash and potential remote code execution. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.3.8.

Affected Software

2 affected components
Espressif Arduino-esp32<3.3.8
Espressif Arduino-esp32<3.3.8

Event History

May 12, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·09:56 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·09:56 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·10:16 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-42854?

CVE-2026-42854 has a high severity rating due to the potential for remote code execution resulting from a stack buffer overflow.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-42854?

To fix CVE-2026-42854, update the arduino-esp32 library to version 3.3.8 or later.

3

What are the affected versions for CVE-2026-42854?

CVE-2026-42854 affects all versions of arduino-esp32 prior to 3.3.8.

4

What vulnerability type is CVE-2026-42854?

CVE-2026-42854 is a stack buffer overflow vulnerability leading to potential remote code execution.

5

What products are impacted by CVE-2026-42854?

CVE-2026-42854 impacts the arduino-esp32 libraries used with various ESP32 microcontrollers.

Contact

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