ESPHome vulnerable to denial-of-service via out-of-bounds check bypass in the API component
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- Present
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · Low
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub.
Summary
ESPHome is a system to control microcontrollers remotely through Home Automation systems. In versions 2025.9.0 through 2025.12.6, an integer overflow in the API component's protobuf decoder allows denial-of-service attacks when API encryption is not used. The bounds check `ptr + field_length > end` in `components/api/proto.cpp` can overflow when a malicious client sends a large `field_length` value. This affects all ESPHome device platforms (ESP32, ESP8266, RP2040, LibreTiny). The overflow bypasses the out-of-bounds check, causing the device to read invalid memory and crash. When using the plaintext API protocol, this attack can be performed without authentication. When noise encryption is enabled, knowledge of the encryption key is required. Users should upgrade to ESPHome 2025.12.7 or later to receive a patch, enable API encryption with a unique key per device, and follow the Security Best Practices.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| esphome | esphome | 2025.9.0 to before 2025.12.7 | 2025.12.7 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | esphome (PyPI) | 2025.9.0 to before 2025.12.7 | 2025.12.7 | Patch available | GHSA-4h3h-63v6-88qx |
- esphome Vendoresphome Affected 2025.9.0 to before 2025.12.7 Fixed in 2025.12.7 Patch available CNA
- esphome (PyPI) Vendor— Affected 2025.9.0 to before 2025.12.7 Fixed in 2025.12.7 Patch available GHSA-4h3h-63v6-88qx
Remediation
- Fix · CNA esphome (esphome) Fixed in 2025.12.7
- Fix · GHSA-4h3h-63v6-88qx esphome (PyPI) Fixed in 2025.12.7 Advisory →
Vendor assessments
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-23833
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-4h3h-63v6-88qx
References
Patch 3
More Esphome vulnerabilities
- TI-2024-17944 ESPHome remote code execution via arbitrary file write CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2024-18126 ESPHome vulnerable to stored Cross-site Scripting in edit configuration file API CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.7
Sources
- CVE-2026-23833 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-23833 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-4h3h-63v6-88qx · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-23833 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences