CVE-2026-40003: ZTE ZX297520V3 BootROM · Out-of-bounds Write
Affects ZTE ZX297520V3 BootROMSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.1 Medium.
Data as of 30 Oct 2026, 11:52 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 22% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:LExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 7 May 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: evidence found.
Public exploit code: GitHub proofs of concept
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), GitHub proofs of concept, the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 30 Oct 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| ZTEZX297520V3 BootROM | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
Until an official fix is released, limit physical access to affected devices and disable or restrict USB download mode if possible. Monitor vendor communications for updates on patches or mitigations.
Description
ZTE ZX297520V3 BootROM contains a vulnerability that allows arbitrary memory writes via USB. Attackers can exploit the lack of target address validation in the USB download mode to write data to any location in BootROM runtime memory, thereby overwriting the stack, hijacking the execution flow, bypassing the Secure Boot signature verification mechanism, and achieving unauthorized code execution.