Sources: National Vulnerability Database, CVE.org, CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS
CVE-2026-82418 Overview
IBM Watson Speech Services Cartridge 4.0.0 through 5.4.0 could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code due to a use-after-free vulnerability.
Critical Impact
Affected Products
- IBM Watson Speech Services Cartridge: see the vendor advisory for the exact affected versions
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-11-04: CVE-2026-82418 published to the National Vulnerability Database by psirt@us.ibm.com
- 2026-11-04: last updated in the NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-82418
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2026-82418 is a Use After Free weakness (CWE-416: Use After Free) in IBM Watson Speech Services Cartridge. Based on its CVSS vector, the flaw can be reached over the network, needs no login, and needs no user interaction. Memory is used after it was released, which can lead to code execution.
With a CVSS base score of 9.8, apply the vendor fix and confirm exposure on internet facing and business critical assets first.
Root Cause
The weakness is classified as CWE-416: Use After Free. Memory is used after it was released, which can lead to code execution.
Attack Vector
Based on the CVSS vector, the flaw can be reached over the network, needs no login, and needs no user interaction. Attack complexity is low complexity.
No exploitation in the wild is confirmed by CISA at the time of the last update. Check the references below for any vendor or researcher proof of concept.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-82418
Detection Strategies
- Inventory every instance of IBM Watson Speech Services Cartridge and compare the running version with the affected range above.
- Check external attack surface scans for internet facing instances of the component.
- Run an authenticated vulnerability scan once your scanner ships a check for this CVE.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward IBM Watson Speech Services Cartridge application, access and audit logs to your SIEM for retrospective hunting.
- Alert on new processes, configuration changes or outbound connections from the affected service.
- Track the vendor advisory and the CISA KEV catalog for changes in exploitation status.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-82418
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the fixed version of IBM Watson Speech Services Cartridge named in the vendor advisory.
- Prioritize internet facing and business critical instances first.
- Rescan after the change to confirm the exposure is closed.
Patch Information
Use the fixed version listed in the vendor advisory for IBM Watson Speech Services Cartridge.
Workarounds
- If patching must wait, restrict network access to the affected service and place it behind authentication or a web application firewall rule.
CWE References
- CWE-416: Use After Free More CVEs with this weakness
Technical References
This entry is built directly from NVD, CISA KEV and EPSS data. Verify fixed versions in the vendor advisory before you deploy.
Frequently asked questions
Related CVEs
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In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ksmbd: fix use-after-free in ksmbd_tree_connect_put under concurrency Under high concurrency, A tree-connection object (tcon) is freed on a disconnect path while another path still holds a reference and later executes *_put()/write on it.
ALGO 8180 IP Audio Alerter SIP Use-After-Free Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of ALGO 8180 IP Audio Alerter devices. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the handling of SIP calls. The issue results from the lack of validating the existence of an object prior to performing operations on the object. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the device. Was ZDI-CAN-28303.
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: fix use-after-free warning in btrfs_get_or_create_delayed_node() Previously, btrfs_get_or_create_delayed_node() set the delayed_node's refcount before acquiring the root->delayed_nodes lock. Commit e8513c012de7 ("btrfs: implement ref_tracker for delayed_nodes") moved refcount_set inside the critical section, which means there is no longer a memory barrier between setting the refcount and setting btrfs_inode->delayed_node. Without that barrier, the stores to node->refs and btrfs_inode->delayed_node may become visible out of order. Another thread can then read btrfs_inode->delayed_node and attempt to increment a refcount that hasn't been set yet, leading to a refcounting bug and a use-after-free warning. The fix is to move refcount_set back to where it was to take advantage of the implicit memory barrier provided by lock acquisition. Because the allocations now happen outside of the lock's critical section, they can use GFP_NOFS instead of GFP_ATOMIC.
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