Executive brief
FlexRIC is a software controller used in Open RAN (Radio Access Network) environments to manage cellular network functions. A vulnerability allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to crash the controller by sending a specially crafted message. This results in a denial-of-service (DoS) condition, potentially disrupting mobile network operations and management.
Technical details
A Reachable Assertion (CWE-617) exists in the near-RT RIC component of FlexRIC v2.0.0. The vulnerability is located in the 'stop_pending_event()' function within 'src/ric/msg_handler_ric.c'. When the RIC receives a 'RIC_SUBSCRIPTION_RESPONSE' with an unknown 'ric_id', it attempts to extract a non-existent key from a bimap without prior validation. In debug builds, this triggers an 'assert()' leading to a SIGABRT; in release builds where assertions are stripped, it results in a NULL pointer dereference and a SIGSEGV. Attackers can exploit this by sending a forged SCTP packet to port 36421.
Affected products
- EURECOM FlexRIC v2.0.0 through commit 6a595d8b
Timeline
- 2026-06-01: disclosed
- 2026-06-01: advisory