CVE-2026-0716 is a vulnerability identified in the libsoup library, specifically in its WebSocket frame processing component used by Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10. The flaw arises when the library handles incoming WebSocket messages under a non-default configuration where the maximum incoming payload size is not set. In this scenario, libsoup may read memory beyond the intended buffer boundaries, leading to out-of-bounds memory access. This can result in unintended exposure of memory contents or cause the application to crash due to memory corruption. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction but does require network access to exploit, as it involves processing incoming WebSocket frames. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 4.8 (medium), with the vector indicating network attack vector (AV:N), high attack complexity (AC:H), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), limited confidentiality impact (C:L), no integrity impact (I:N), and low availability impact (A:L). No known public exploits have been reported to date. The vulnerability affects applications that utilize libsoup’s WebSocket support with the specific configuration of an unset maximum payload size, which may not be the default setting. This suggests that only certain deployments or custom configurations are vulnerable. The flaw is significant because WebSocket is widely used for real-time web communications, and libsoup is a common HTTP client/server library in Linux environments. Exploitation could lead to information disclosure or denial of service via application crashes. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 users should review their libsoup configurations and apply patches once available to prevent exploitation.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2026-0716 depends on their use of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 and libsoup for WebSocket communications. The vulnerability could lead to limited confidentiality breaches through memory exposure or service disruptions due to application crashes. This may affect web services, real-time communication platforms, or internal applications relying on WebSocket protocols. Critical sectors such as finance, telecommunications, government, and energy that use Red Hat Enterprise Linux in their infrastructure could face service interruptions or data leakage risks. However, the medium CVSS score and the requirement for a non-default configuration reduce the overall risk. Organizations with strict security requirements or those handling sensitive data should consider this vulnerability a moderate threat. The absence of known exploits in the wild lowers immediate risk but does not eliminate the need for proactive mitigation. Given the network-based attack vector and no need for authentication, exposed WebSocket endpoints are the primary attack surface. Disruptions could impact business continuity and trust in affected services.

European organizations should take the following specific steps to mitigate CVE-2026-0716: 1) Audit all systems running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 to identify applications using libsoup for WebSocket communications, especially those with customized configurations. 2) Verify if the maximum incoming payload size parameter is unset or configured non-default; if so, set a reasonable maximum payload size to prevent out-of-bounds reads. 3) Monitor Red Hat advisories and apply patches or updates for libsoup and related packages as soon as they become available. 4) Implement network-level controls such as Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block anomalous WebSocket traffic patterns that could exploit this vulnerability. 5) Conduct internal penetration testing focusing on WebSocket endpoints to identify potential exploitation paths. 6) Employ runtime application self-protection (RASP) or memory protection mechanisms to detect and mitigate memory corruption attempts. 7) Educate developers and system administrators about secure WebSocket configuration best practices to avoid unsafe defaults. 8) Restrict exposure of WebSocket services to trusted networks or VPNs where feasible to reduce attack surface. These targeted measures go beyond generic patching advice and address the specific conditions that enable this vulnerability.