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Vulnerability record · CVE-2026-42512 · published 30 April 2026

CVE-2026-42512: Freebsd heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability

Freebsd · Freebsd

As dhclient is building an environment to pass to dhclient-script, it may need to resize the array of string pointers. The code which expands the array incorrectly calculates its new size when requesting memory, resulting in a heap buffer overrun. A specially crafted packet can cause dhclient to overrun its buffer of environment entries. This can result in a crash, but it may be possible to leverage this bug to achieve remote code execution.

8.1 CVSS 3.1 High EPSS 1.8% · top 22.2% CWE-122 · Heap-based buffer overflow
8.1CVSS 3.1 base score
1.8%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
1References
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

As dhclient is building an environment to pass to dhclient-script, it may need to resize the array of string pointers. The code which expands the array incorrectly calculates its new size when requesting memory, resulting in a heap buffer overrun. A specially crafted packet can cause dhclient to overrun its buffer of environment entries. This can result in a crash, but it may be possible to leverage this bug to achieve remote code execution.

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

1 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

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Related vulnerabilities

Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2026-42512), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-26). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.