CVE-2026-8036

Local privilege escalation in NI-PAL

Published Jun 2, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 8.4 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed

Description

Improper input validation in NI-PAL may allow a local authenticated user to access arbitrary system memory, potentially leading to privilege escalation. This vulnerability affects NI-PAL 26.3.0 and prior versions on Windows and Linux.

Analysis

Technical impact

Improper input validation in NI-PAL allows a locally authenticated user to read or write arbitrary system memory, which can be leveraged to gain higher privileges on the host. This flaw can enable an attacker to compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the system, potentially resulting in full system takeover. The weakness is categorized as CWE-1285, representing an input validation error that permits memory access beyond intended bounds.

Affected Systems

The vulnerability affects NI-PAL version 26.3.0 and all earlier releases deployed on Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems. These installations expose the input validation flaw to any user who can run or interact with the NI-PAL application locally.

Risk and Exploitability

With a CVSS score of 8.4, the bug is considered high severity. The EPSS score is not available, and the vulnerability is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog, indicating no widely documented exploitation yet. The attack vector is local: an authenticated user with access to the NI-PAL process can trigger the input validation failure and use the resulting memory access to elevate privileges. Exploitation requires no additional network access or remote interaction, but does need local presence on the target machine.

Affected Products

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions

NI-PAL

unaffected

Version	Status	Constraints
`0`	affected	≤ 26.3.0

Configuration 1 [-]

AND

cpe:2.3:a:ni:ni-pal:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

OR	cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:o:ni:linux_real-time:-:::::::*

No data.

Vendor Product Versions

Ni-pal

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[0,26.3.0]`	affected	semver	—

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

Update NI-PAL to the latest version, which removes the corrupted input validation logic.
Limit local access to NI-PAL by applying least‑privilege user controls and restricting who can execute the application.
Audit and harden the system to ensure that only authorized personnel have local login rights, reducing the attack surface for potential privilege escalation.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on June 3, 2026 at 04:23 UTC.

Tracking

Advisories

No advisories available

Metrics

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required Low

Attack Requirements None

User Interaction None

Vulnerable System Confidentiality Impact High

Vulnerable System Integrity Impact High

Vulnerable System Availability Impact None

Subsequent System Confidentiality Impact None

Subsequent System Integrity Impact None

Subsequent System Availability Impact None

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required Low

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact High

Integrity Impact High

Availability Impact None

User Interaction None

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

Exploit prediction score: < 1% (0.107% probability within 30 days)

Exploitation none

Automatable no

Technical Impact total

References

Link	Providers
https://www.ni.com/en/support/security/available-critical-and-security-updates-for-ni-software/2026/invalid-input-validation-vulnerabilities-in-ni-pal.html

History

Jun 5, 2026 3:15 PM First appearance in the feed. Affected versions updated. Affected vendors updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
First Time appeared		Linux Linux linux Kernel Microsoft Microsoft windows Ni linux Real-time
CPEs		cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:::::::* cpe:2.3:o:ni:linux_real-time:-:::::::*
Vendors & Products		Linux Linux linux Kernel Microsoft Microsoft windows Ni linux Real-time

Jun 3, 2026 3:30 PM Scoring metrics updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Metrics		ssvc `{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}`

Jun 3, 2026 2:30 AM Description updated. Title updated. First appearance in the feed. Weaknesses updated. Affected versions updated. Affected vendors updated. Added references. Scoring metrics updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Description		Improper input validation in NI-PAL may allow a local authenticated user to access arbitrary system memory, potentially leading to privilege escalation. This vulnerability affects NI-PAL 26.3.0 and prior versions on Windows and Linux.
Title		Local privilege escalation in NI-PAL
First Time appeared		Ni Ni ni-pal
Weaknesses		CWE-1285
CPEs		cpe:2.3:a:ni:ni-pal::::::::
Vendors & Products		Ni Ni ni-pal
References		https://www.ni.com/en/support/security/available-critical-and-security-updates-for-ni-software/2026/invalid-input-validation-vulnerabilities-in-ni-pal.html
Metrics		cvssV3_1 `{'score': 7.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}` cvssV4_0 `{'score': 8.4, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}`