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.
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Fixes

Solution

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Workaround

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History

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 08:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Esphome
Esphome esphome
Vendors & Products Esphome
Esphome esphome

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 18:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description 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.
Title ESPHome vulnerable to denial-of-service via out-of-bounds check bypass in the API component
Weaknesses CWE-190
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 1.7, 'vector': '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'}


Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: GitHub_M

Published:

Updated: 2026-01-19T17:58:50.499Z

Reserved: 2026-01-16T15:46:40.841Z

Link: CVE-2026-23833

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-01-19T18:16:06.007

Modified: 2026-01-19T18:16:06.007

Link: CVE-2026-23833

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-01-20T08:40:18Z

Weaknesses