CVE-2026-42945

High
8.1
0.05.010.0
Year
2026
Published
May 13, 2026
Known Affected Devices
0
CVSS Score
8.1

What is CVE-2026-42945?

NGINX Plus and NGINX Open Source have a vulnerability in the ngx_http_rewrite_module module. This vulnerability exists when the rewrite directive is followed by a rewrite, if, or set directive and an unnamed Perl-Compatible Regular Expression (PCRE) capture (for example, $1, $2) with a replacement string that includes a question mark (?). An unauthenticated attacker along with conditions beyond its control can exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted HTTP requests. This may cause a heap buffer overflow in the NGINX worker process leading to a restart. Additionally, for systems with Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR ) disabled, code execution is possible.  Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated.

CVSS Vector Breakdown

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

Exploitable remotely over the network without requiring access to the local system.

AC
Attack Complexity
High

Exploit requires specific conditions, timing, or configuration to succeed.

PR
Privileges Required
None

No authentication required. Any anonymous user can exploit this vulnerability.

UI
User Interaction
None

No user interaction required. Exploit runs without any victim action.

S
Scope
Unchanged

Exploiting the vulnerability only affects the vulnerable component itself.

C
Confidentiality Impact
High

Complete loss of confidentiality. All data on the component may be exposed.

I
Integrity Impact
High

Complete loss of integrity. Attacker can modify any file or data on the component.

A
Availability Impact
High

Complete denial of service. The component becomes fully unavailable.

FAQ

How severe is CVE-2026-42945?

CVE-2026-42945 has a CVSS score of 8.1/10, rated as High. This is a high severity vulnerability and should be patched as soon as possible.

What does the CVSS score mean for CVE-2026-42945?

CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) rates vulnerability severity from 0.0 to 10.0. CVE-2026-42945 scores 8.1/10 (High). Scores 9.0–10.0 are Critical, 7.0–8.9 are High, 4.0–6.9 are Medium, and below 4.0 are Low.

Which devices are affected by CVE-2026-42945?

The list of devices confirmed to be affected by CVE-2026-42945 is shown in the "Affected Devices" section above. Check your firmware version against the vendor security advisory and apply the latest patch.

How do I fix or mitigate CVE-2026-42945?

Apply the latest firmware or software update from the vendor. Check the References section above for official advisories and patch notes. If no patch is available, consider disabling the affected feature or isolating the device from untrusted networks.