CVE-2026-86096: Use After Free in PX4 PX4-Autopilot
Description
PX4 Autopilot through 1.17.0 contains a use-after-free vulnerability in TemperatureCalibration::start() due to a race condition between task spawning and object deletion. Attackers can trigger the calibration process via shell commands to write to freed heap memory, corrupting unrelated objects or allocator metadata and destabilizing heap operations.
CVSS v4.0
Score 6.0medium
Affected software
PX4
PX4-Autopilot
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AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-86096 is a use-after-free vulnerability in PX4 Autopilot through version 1.17.0. The issue arises from a race condition in the TemperatureCalibration::start() method where task spawning and object deletion overlap, allowing an attacker to invoke the calibration process via shell commands. This leads to writes on freed heap memory, corrupting unrelated objects or allocator metadata and destabilizing heap operations.
Potential Impact
Exploitation of this vulnerability can cause heap corruption, potentially destabilizing the system's memory management. This may lead to unpredictable behavior or crashes in the PX4 Autopilot software. The CVSS 4.0 score of 6 (medium severity) reflects the complexity and impact, with attack vector being adjacent network and requiring high attack complexity and partial impact on integrity and availability.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until an official fix is available, avoid triggering the calibration process via shell commands or restrict access to shell command interfaces to trusted users only.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- VulnCheck
- Date Reserved
- 2026-09-04T22:17:28.470Z
- Cvss Version
- 4.0
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 6a9b4bc3acd9273b49619dd7
Added to database: 09/04/2026, 22:52:51 UTC
Last enriched: 09/15/2026, 00:00:57 UTC
Last updated: 10/18/2026, 18:48:24 UTC
Views: 94
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