CVE-2026-42764
CWE-476Published: June 9, 2026· Updated: Jun 15, 2026
Official Description
Issue summary: Receiving a QUIC initial packet with an invalid token may
trigger a NULL pointer dereference in the OpenSSL QUIC server with
address validation disabled.
Impact summary: NULL pointer dereference typically causes abnormal termination
of the affected QUIC server process and a Denial of Service.
If the address validation is disabled in the OpenSSL QUIC server
implementation, an attacker can crash the server by sending an initial
packet with an invalid or expired token.
By default, the client address validation is enabled in the OpenSSL QUIC server
implementation, which makes the default configuration not vulnerable
to this issue. However if the SSL_LISTENER_FLAG_NO_VALIDATE is used with
the SSL_new_listener() call, the address validation is disabled making the
vulnerable code reachable.
The FIPS modules in 4.0, 3.6, 3.5, 3.4, and 3.0 are not affected by this
issue, as the affected code is outside the OpenSSL FIPS module boundary.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-42764 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 availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 7.5.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
Official Patches & Advisories
All References (4)
Quick Facts
Related CVEs (CWE-476)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2026-42764 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts