openFPGALoader Heap-Buffer-Overflow Read Vulnerability

openFPGALoader is a utility used for programming Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). A heap-buffer-overflow read vulnerability has been identified in versions 1.1.1 and earlier. The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-35176, resides in the POFParser::parseSection() function. It allows an attacker to trigger out-of-bounds heap memory access by supplying a specially crafted .pof file. Critically, exploiting this vulnerability does not require any specific FPGA hardware, making it easier to trigger. Successful exploitation could lead to denial of service or information disclosure.

Attack Chain

1. An attacker crafts a malicious .pof file designed to trigger the heap-buffer-overflow.
2. The attacker delivers the malicious .pof file to a system running a vulnerable version of openFPGALoader (<= 1.1.1).
3. A user or automated process attempts to parse the malicious .pof file using openFPGALoader.
4. The POFParser::parseSection() function is called to process a section of the .pof file.
5. Due to the crafted structure of the .pof file, the parseSection() function attempts to read beyond the allocated heap buffer.
6. This out-of-bounds read operation causes the program to potentially crash (denial of service) or leak sensitive information from adjacent memory locations.
7. If information disclosure occurs, the attacker may gain insights into the system’s memory layout or potentially extract sensitive data.

Impact

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to a denial-of-service condition, causing the openFPGALoader application to crash. In certain scenarios, it might also be possible to read sensitive information from the application’s memory space. While the exact scope of information disclosure is dependent on memory layout, the vulnerability poses a risk to systems using vulnerable versions of openFPGALoader. The risk is primarily to development environments using this tool rather than production FPGA deployments.

Recommendation

• Upgrade openFPGALoader to a version greater than 1.1.1 to patch CVE-2026-35176.
• Deploy the Sigma rule “Detect openFPGALoader POF Parsing with Unusual Process Arguments” to your SIEM to identify potential exploitation attempts involving the execution of openFPGALoader with .pof files.
• Monitor file system events for the creation or modification of .pof files in unusual locations to detect potential attempts to introduce malicious files into the system.