CVE-2026-0716 is a buffer access vulnerability found in the libsoup library, specifically in its WebSocket frame processing component on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10. The issue arises when an application uses a non-default configuration where the maximum incoming WebSocket payload size is unset. Under this condition, libsoup may read memory outside the allocated buffer bounds during the processing of incoming WebSocket messages. This out-of-bounds read can lead to unintended memory exposure, potentially leaking sensitive information from adjacent memory regions, or cause the application to crash, impacting availability. The vulnerability does not require any privileges or user interaction to exploit but does require network access to the vulnerable WebSocket service. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 4.8 (medium), reflecting the limited impact on confidentiality (partial memory exposure), no impact on integrity, and limited impact on availability (possible crash). The attack complexity is high due to the need for a specific configuration (unset maximum payload size), which is not the default. No known exploits have been reported in the wild to date. This vulnerability primarily affects applications that embed libsoup for WebSocket communication on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 systems, which are common in enterprise environments for web services and inter-process communication.

For European organizations, the vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to confidentiality and availability. Sensitive information could be exposed if an attacker crafts malicious WebSocket frames to trigger out-of-bounds reads, potentially leaking memory contents. Additionally, the vulnerability can cause application crashes, leading to denial of service conditions. Organizations relying on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 with applications using libsoup’s WebSocket support, especially those with custom configurations disabling the maximum payload size limit, are at risk. This could affect web servers, middleware, or internal communication services that use WebSocket protocols. The impact is more significant in sectors with high reliance on secure and stable web communications, such as finance, government, and critical infrastructure. However, the high attack complexity and lack of known exploits reduce the immediate threat level. Nonetheless, the potential for memory exposure and service disruption necessitates timely mitigation to protect sensitive data and maintain service availability.

European organizations should first identify all systems running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 that utilize libsoup for WebSocket communications. They should audit configurations to verify if the maximum incoming payload size is unset or set to non-default values that could trigger the vulnerability. Applying official patches from Red Hat as soon as they become available is critical. Until patches are deployed, organizations can mitigate risk by enforcing strict WebSocket payload size limits in application configurations to prevent unset or unlimited payload sizes. Network-level controls such as Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) can be configured to monitor and restrict suspicious WebSocket traffic patterns. Additionally, monitoring application logs for crashes or abnormal memory access errors can help detect exploitation attempts. Employing runtime application self-protection (RASP) or memory protection mechanisms may also reduce the risk of memory exposure. Finally, organizations should ensure that their incident response teams are aware of this vulnerability and prepared to respond to potential exploitation attempts.