External risk intelligence

MOOS-IvP uMemWatch Command Injection via Client Names

CVE advisorySeverity: CRITICAL (CVSS 9.3)

CVE-2026-85426

MOOS-IvP is a specialized software suite used for autonomous marine vehicle control and research. It is typically deployed in isolated, internal, or physical research environments rather than as a public-facing internet service, making exposure to the public internet highly unlikely.

OS Command Injection

Halo Surface Signal: 1 out of 5 — much less likely to be public-facing.

External exposure likelihood

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

This advisory describes a critical vulnerability in the MOOS-IvP software, specifically within the uMemWatch component. The issue allows for the execution of arbitrary commands by manipulating client names, potentially impacting systems that rely on this software for autonomous marine vehicle operations. The main concern is confirming relevance and exposure.

Allows outside control of system commands.
Matters for marine autonomous systems.
Confirm if used and potential exposure.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An attacker can leverage this vulnerability by providing specially crafted names for MOOS clients. These names, when processed by the `uMemWatch` component, can contain malicious characters that are not properly sanitized. This allows the attacker to inject commands that will be executed by the system with the privileges of the `uMemWatch` process, potentially leading to unauthorized arbitrary code execution.

No special access needed.
Client names with shell characters.
Arbitrary command execution risk.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

When supported by the advisory, an attacker could execute arbitrary commands by manipulating MOOS client names. This could affect the behavior of the uMemWatch process.

System commands could be executed.
Malicious client names could be injected.
Arbitrary code execution may occur.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

The MOOS-IvP uMemWatch vulnerability requires action from teams managing application deployments and infrastructure, as it allows remote command execution. The immediate first step is to locate all instances of uMemWatch, confirm their accessibility from external networks, identify the accountable system owner, and then prioritize remediation based on the criticality and exposure of each instance.

Application and infrastructure owners
Verify uMemWatch reachability and criticality
Plan risk-based remediation and vendor coordination

Supplementary metadata

CVSS vector

Validate whether this threat affects your internet-facing exposure.

Halo Threat Intelligence helps prioritize remediation with Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context. Start exposure validation with a free external attack surface trial.

Free EASM Trial See How Signal Works

Frequently asked questions

What is MOOS-IvP and the uMemWatch component?

MOOS-IvP is an open-source software suite designed for the autonomy of marine robotic vehicles. It provides a modular framework for researchers to manage vehicle behavior, communications, and sensor data. Within this suite, uMemWatch serves as a utility tool intended to monitor the memory usage and operational status of various MOOS processes, helping developers ensure their autonomous systems remain stable and performant during mission operations.

What is the weakness in CVE-2026-85426?

This vulnerability is classified as Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command, known as CWE-78. In plain English, the software takes user-provided client names and incorporates them directly into a system command without cleaning them first. This allows an attacker to insert extra characters—like those used to chain commands—which the system then treats as legitimate instructions rather than just a name, resulting in unauthorized command execution.

How can an attacker trigger this command injection?

An attacker triggers this by providing a specially crafted MOOS client name containing shell metacharacters to the uMemWatch utility. This flaw specifically stems from unsanitized input processing; it does not occur with standard, benign client names that lack these shell-specific characters. If the input does not include these malicious command sequences, the system continues to function without executing the injected code.

Is my system at risk according to Halo Surface Signal?

Halo Surface Signal indicates that exploitation is very unlikely for most users. Because MOOS-IvP is specialized software for autonomous marine vehicle research, it is typically deployed in isolated or physical testing environments rather than exposed to the public internet. While the vulnerability allows for critical impact, the primary defense for many users is this lack of external, network-accessible reachability.

How should I respond to this vulnerability?

Start by identifying every instance of uMemWatch running within your infrastructure. Once located, verify if any of these instances are accessible via an external network or a shared environment where untrusted clients could reach them. After assessing this reachability and confirming the system owner, prioritize the identified instances for remediation. Consult the official MOOS-IvP project for updates or recommended configuration changes to secure your deployment.

References

Written by Nicholas Merritt

Nicholas Merritt is VP of Security Solutions at Halo Security. With more than 25 years across application security, vulnerability prioritization, and offensive security, he helps teams translate threat data into practical exposure validation and remediation focus. He authors Halo Threat Intelligence CVE advisories using Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context to prioritize internet-facing risk.