Is CVE-2026-42512 actively exploited?

No active exploitation of CVE-2026-42512 has been confirmed so far. Continue monitoring, as exploit status can change.

Can CVE-2026-42512 be exploited remotely?

Yes. CVE-2026-42512 is exploitable remotely over the network (CVSS attack vector: Network).

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-42512?

CVE-2026-42512 has a CVSS score of 8.1 (HIGH).

HOME VULNERABILITIESCVE-2026-42512

HIGH

CVE-2026-42512

CWE-122Published: April 30, 2026· Updated: May 1, 2026

8.1

CVSS v3.1

EPSS:0.09%probability of exploitation in 30 daysPercentile:25.0th

Official 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.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2026-42512 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 8.1.