CVE-2026-23833
ESPHome vulnerable to denial-of-service via out-of-bounds check bypass in the API component
ESPHome is a system to control microcontrollers remotely through Home Automation systems. In versions 2025.9.0 through 2025.12.6, an integer overflow in the API component's protobuf decoder allows denial-of-service attacks when API encryption is not used. The bounds check ptr + field_length > end in components/api/proto.cpp can overflow when a malicious client sends a large field_length value. This affects all ESPHome device platforms (ESP32, ESP8266, RP2040, LibreTiny). The overflow bypasses the out-of-bounds check, causing the device to read invalid memory and crash. When using the plaintext API protocol, this attack can be performed without authentication. When noise encryption is enabled, knowledge of the encryption key is required. Users should upgrade to ESPHome 2025.12.7 or later to receive a patch, enable API encryption with a unique key per device, and follow the Security Best Practices.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- Low
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
ESPHome vulnerable to denial-of-service via out-of-bounds check bypass in the API component
ESPHome is a system to control microcontrollers remotely through Home Automation systems. In versions 2025.9.0 through 2025.12.6, an integer overflow in the API component's protobuf decoder allows denial-of-service attacks when API encryption is not used. The bounds check ptr + field_length > end in components/api/proto.cpp can overflow when a malicious client sends a large field_length value. This affects all ESPHome device platforms (ESP32, ESP8266, RP2040, LibreTiny). The overflow bypasses the out-of-bounds check, causing the device to read invalid memory and crash. When using the plaintext API protocol, this attack can be performed without authentication. When noise encryption is enabled, knowledge of the encryption key is required. Users should upgrade to ESPHome 2025.12.7 or later to receive a patch, enable API encryption with a unique key per device, and follow the Security Best Practices.
- Record
CVE-2026-23833- CVSS 4.0
- 1.7 Low
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U - Weakness
- CWE-190
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-3306
ESPHome is a system to control microcontrollers remotely through Home Automation systems. In versions 2025.9.0 through 2025.12.6, an integer overflow in the API component's protobuf decoder allows denial-of-service attacks when API encryption is not used. The bounds check ptr + field_length > end in components/api/proto.cpp can overflow when a malicious client sends a large field_length value. This affects all ESPHome device platforms (ESP32, ESP8266, RP2040, LibreTiny). The overflow bypasses the out-of-bounds check, causing the device to read invalid memory and crash. When using the plaintext API protocol, this attack can be performed without authentication. When noise encryption is enabled, knowledge of the encryption key is required. Users should upgrade to ESPHome 2025.12.7 or later to receive a patch, enable API encryption with a unique key per device, and follow the Security Best Practices.
- Record
EUVD-2026-3306- CVSS 4.0
- 1.7 Low
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-4h3h-63v6-88qx
ESPHome vulnerable to denial-of-service via out-of-bounds check bypass in the API component
Summary
An integer overflow in the API component's protobuf decoder allows denial-of-service attacks when API encryption is not used.
Details
The bounds check ptr + field_length > end in components/api/proto.cpp can overflow when a malicious client sends a large field_length value. This affects all ESPHome device platforms (ESP32, ESP8266, RP2040, LibreTiny). The overflow bypasses the out-of-bounds check, causing the device to read invalid memory and crash.
When using the plaintext API protocol, this attack can be performed without authentication. When noise encryption is enabled, knowledge of the encryption key is required.
Affected Versions
ESPHome 2025.9.0 through 2025.12.6
Mitigation
- Upgrade to ESPHome 2025.12.7 or later (or 2026.1.0b3 or later)
- Enable API encryption with a unique key per device
- Follow the Security Best Practices
Severity
Low - Users following Security Best Practices with API encryption enabled are not affected without knowledge of the encryption key.
Impact
Denial-of-service. An attacker with network access to port 6053 can crash and reboot the device.
Credits
Thanks to @Mat931 for responsibly reporting this vulnerability.
- Record
GHSA-4h3h-63v6-88qx- CVSS 4.0
- 6.8 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:A/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-190
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
ESPHome is a system to control microcontrollers remotely through Home Automation systems. In versions 2025.9.0 through 2025.12.6, an integer overflow in the API component's protobuf decoder allows denial-of-service attacks when API encryption is not used. The bounds check ptr + field_length > end in components/api/proto.cpp can overflow when a malicious client sends a large field_length value. This affects all ESPHome device platforms (ESP32, ESP8266, RP2040, LibreTiny). The overflow bypasses the out-of-bounds check, causing the device to read invalid memory and crash. When using the plaintext API protocol, this attack can be performed without authentication. When noise encryption is enabled, knowledge of the encryption key is required. Users should upgrade to ESPHome 2025.12.7 or later to receive a patch, enable API encryption with a unique key per device, and follow the Security Best Practices.
- Record
CVE-2026-23833- CVSS 4.0
- 1.7 Low
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-190
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
ESPHome vulnerable to denial-of-service via out-of-bounds check bypass in the API component
ESPHome is a system to control microcontrollers remotely through Home Automation systems. In versions 2025.9.0 through 2025.12.6, an integer overflow in the API component's protobuf decoder allows denial-of-service attacks when API encryption is not used. The bounds check ptr + field_length > end in components/api/proto.cpp can overflow when a malicious client sends a large field_length value. This affects all ESPHome device platforms (ESP32, ESP8266, RP2040, LibreTiny). The overflow bypasses the out-of-bounds check, causing the device to read invalid memory and crash. When using the plaintext API protocol, this attack can be performed without authentication. When noise encryption is enabled, knowledge of the encryption key is required. Users should upgrade to ESPHome 2025.12.7 or later to receive a patch, enable API encryption with a unique key per device, and follow the Security Best Practices.
- Record
CVE-2026-23833- CVSS 4.0
- 1.7 Low
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U - Weakness
- CWE-190
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-4h3h-63v6-88qx
ESPHome vulnerable to denial-of-service via out-of-bounds check bypass in the API component
Summary
An integer overflow in the API component's protobuf decoder allows denial-of-service attacks when API encryption is not used.
Details
The bounds check ptr + field_length > end in components/api/proto.cpp can overflow when a malicious client sends a large field_length value. This affects all ESPHome device platforms (ESP32, ESP8266, RP2040, LibreTiny). The overflow bypasses the out-of-bounds check, causing the device to read invalid memory and crash.
When using the plaintext API protocol, this attack can be performed without authentication. When noise encryption is enabled, knowledge of the encryption key is required.
Affected Versions
ESPHome 2025.9.0 through 2025.12.6
Mitigation
- Upgrade to ESPHome 2025.12.7 or later (or 2026.1.0b3 or later)
- Enable API encryption with a unique key per device
- Follow the Security Best Practices
Severity
Low - Users following Security Best Practices with API encryption enabled are not affected without knowledge of the encryption key.
Impact
Denial-of-service. An attacker with network access to port 6053 can crash and reboot the device.
Credits
Thanks to @Mat931 for responsibly reporting this vulnerability.
- Record
GHSA-4h3h-63v6-88qx- CVSS 4.0
- 6.8 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:A/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-190
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2026-1326
ESPHome vulnerable to denial-of-service via out-of-bounds check bypass in the API component
Summary
An integer overflow in the API component's protobuf decoder allows denial-of-service attacks when API encryption is not used.
Details
The bounds check ptr + field_length > end in components/api/proto.cpp can overflow when a malicious client sends a large field_length value. This affects all ESPHome device platforms (ESP32, ESP8266, RP2040, LibreTiny). The overflow bypasses the out-of-bounds check, causing the device to read invalid memory and crash.
When using the plaintext API protocol, this attack can be performed without authentication. When noise encryption is enabled, knowledge of the encryption key is required.
Affected Versions
ESPHome 2025.9.0 through 2025.12.6
Mitigation
- Upgrade to ESPHome 2025.12.7 or later (or 2026.1.0b3 or later)
- Enable API encryption with a unique key per device
- Follow the Security Best Practices
Severity
Low - Users following Security Best Practices with API encryption enabled are not affected without knowledge of the encryption key.
Impact
Denial-of-service. An attacker with network access to port 6053 can crash and reboot the device.
Credits
Thanks to @Mat931 for responsibly reporting this vulnerability.
- Record
PYSEC-2026-1326- CVSS 4.0
- 6.8 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:A/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
esphomePyPI |
2025.9.0 up to 2025.12.7 | 2025.12.7 |
esphomePyPI |
2025.9.0 up to 2025.12.7, plus listed versions 2025.10.02025.10.0b12025.10.0b22025.10.0b32025.10.0b4 Show 31 moreShow less2025.10.12025.10.22025.10.32025.10.42025.10.52025.11.02025.11.0b12025.11.0b22025.11.0b32025.11.0b42025.11.0b52025.11.12025.11.22025.11.32025.11.42025.11.52025.12.02025.12.0b12025.12.0b22025.12.0b32025.12.0b42025.12.0b52025.12.12025.12.22025.12.32025.12.42025.12.52025.12.62025.9.12025.9.22025.9.3 |
2025.12.7 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-23833 is a low vulnerability (CVSS 1.7) in Esphome, published January 19, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.30%, the 22nd percentile. Fixed in esphome 2025.12.7.
References
github.com/esphome/esphome/security/advisories/GHSA-4h3h-63v6-88qx
esphome.io/guides/security_best_practices
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-23833
pypi.org/project/esphome