# CVE-2026-40573: NovumOS: Nova Interpreter Privilege Escalation

Status: published. Published: 2026-10-30. Updated: 2026-11-05.

NovumOS is a custom 32-bit operating system written in Zig and x86 Assembly. Prior to version 0.25-beta.1, the `Nova` interpreter runs in Ring 0 with unrestricted kernel-memory access. Loading a malicious `.nv` script through the shell permits a local user to execute code with kernel privileges without security checks. The advisory identifies VM initialization in `zig/nova/vm.zig` as the affected component; script execution is not isolated in a restricted Ring 3 privilege domain. This issue is fixed in version 0.25-beta.1.

## Remediation

- fix: MinecAnton209/NovumOS (zig): GitHub reports patched versions >=0.25-beta.1. Check the advisory for the affected release branch. (source: GitHub GHSA-rq9v-wxp3-ffrr) — https://github.com/MinecAnton209/NovumOS/security/advisories/GHSA-rq9v-wxp3-ffrr

## Affected products and versions

- MinecAnton209 / NovumOS: < 0.25-beta.1 (affected). Source: CNA: GitHub_M
-  / MinecAnton209/NovumOS (MinecAnton209/NovumOS): <=0.23 (affected, GitHub advisory range). Source: GitHub GHSA-rq9v-wxp3-ffrr

## Severity and prioritization

- CVSS 3.1: 8.6 (high); CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H; source: CNA: GitHub_M

- CVSS 3.1: 8.6 (high); CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H; source: NVD: security-advisories@github.com

- CISA KEV: No listing in collected sources

- EPSS: 0.13% as of 2026-11-04; percentile 2.57%

- SSVC: exploitation poc; automatable no; technical impact total; source ADP: CISA-ADP

- Weaknesses: CWE-250

## Exploit evidence

- exploit: https://github.com/MinecAnton209/NovumOS/security/advisories/GHSA-rq9v-wxp3-ffrr (ADP: CISA-ADP)

## References

- https://github.com/MinecAnton209/NovumOS/security/advisories/GHSA-rq9v-wxp3-ffrr (CNA: GitHub_M; x_refsource_CONFIRM)

- https://github.com/MinecAnton209/NovumOS/commit/ca3e7a6b4bcdcac23413d39ecf863b94e6a3a207 (CNA: GitHub_M; x_refsource_MISC)

- https://github.com/MinecAnton209/NovumOS/tree/v0.25-beta.1 (CNA: GitHub_M; x_refsource_MISC)

- https://github.com/MinecAnton209/NovumOS/security/advisories/GHSA-rq9v-wxp3-ffrr (ADP: CISA-ADP; exploit)

- https://github.com/MinecAnton209/NovumOS/commit/ca3e7a6b4bcdcac23413d39ecf863b94e6a3a207 (security-advisories@github.com)

- https://github.com/MinecAnton209/NovumOS/security/advisories/GHSA-rq9v-wxp3-ffrr (security-advisories@github.com)

- https://github.com/MinecAnton209/NovumOS/tree/v0.25-beta.1 (security-advisories@github.com)

- https://github.com/MinecAnton209/NovumOS/security/advisories/GHSA-rq9v-wxp3-ffrr (GitHub Security Advisories; advisory)

## Provenance

- CNA: GitHub_M: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-40573; retrieved 2026-11-05; source updated 2026-11-05

- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-40573; retrieved 2026-11-03; source updated 2026-11-02

- GitHub Security Advisories: https://github.com/MinecAnton209/NovumOS/security/advisories/GHSA-rq9v-wxp3-ffrr; retrieved 2026-11-05; source updated 2026-06-27

- FIRST EPSS: https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-40573; retrieved 2026-11-05; source updated Not reported

Revision: 9fac8b0c79314f8606fbbe8085344da743bc1a8c3e8c90bc73a026c6b9a6efb0

Canonical: https://y2.dev/cve/CVE-2026-40573

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