Vulnerabilities

Vulnerability · CVE-2026-42081

free5GC is an open-source implementation of the 5G core network.

Published May 27, 2026 · catalog updated Oct 14, 2026 · free5GC is an open-source

Check if you run it

No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2026-42081. EPSS is 0.27%. Act only if a listed version of free5GC is an open-source is installed.

Gaps on this record

  • The stored product name is a package slug. The name on this page is taken from the title (free5GC is an open-source).
  • No version range is stored. A customer cannot check an installed version against this record.
  • No vendor fix or required action is stored. Compare the linked advisory before you change production.
Severity
High7.1
Known exploitation
Not in CISA/VulnCheck KEV
EPSS
0.27%
Remediation
Advisory link
Affected products
cpe free5gc/free5gc

free5GC is an open-source implementation of the 5G core network. Prior to 4.2.2, the AMF in Free5GC does not verify the UE Security Capabilities received in NGAP PathSwitchRequest messages against its locally stored values, as mandated by 3GPP TS 33.501 §6.7.3.1. A malicious gNB can overwrite the AMF's stored UE security capabilities with arbitrary values, which are then propagated in PathSwitchRequest Acknowledge messages and subsequent Handover Request messages. This leads to persistent handover denial-of-service for affected UEs. This vulnerability is fixed in 4.2.2.

Are you affected?

Enter the version you run. The result uses only the ranges stored on this record.

The check returns affected, not affected, or incomplete. It does not guess a version that is missing from the record.

  • cpe free5gc/free5gcversion unspecified

How to fix CVE-2026-42081

What to do

Three questions, each answered from this record only. Confirm the vendor advisory before you patch.

Should you patch?

No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2026-42081. EPSS is 0.27%. Act only if a listed version of free5GC is an open-source is installed.

Which versions are affected?

Affected version ranges are not on this record. Compare the installed version with the linked vendor advisory before you change production.

What should an analyst verify?

CWE-358. EPSS 0.27%. There is no CISA KEV listing. No Exploit-DB or Metasploit reference is linked. Use the source links for the original advisory.

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

No public source repository is identified for this product.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. May 27, 2026 · NIST NVD

    Detected

    free5GC is an open-source implementation of the 5G core network. Prior to 4.2.2, the AMF in Free5GC does not verify the UE Security Capabilities received in NGAP PathSwitchRequest messages against its locally stored values, as mandated by 3GPP TS 33.501 §6.7.3.1. A malicious gNB can overwrite the AMF's stored UE security capabilities with arbitrary values, which are then propagated in PathSwitchRe

  2. Oct 14, 2026 · NIST NVD

    Updated

    free5GC is an open-source implementation of the 5G core network. Prior to 4.2.2, the AMF in Free5GC does not verify the UE Security Capabilities received in NGAP PathSwitchRequest messages against its locally stored values, as mandated by 3GPP TS 33.501 §6.7.3.1. A malicious gNB can overwrite the AMF's stored UE security capabilities with arbitrary values, which are then propagated in PathSwitchRe

Sources

  • CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2026-42081

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2026-42081

    30-day exploitation probability 0.3%

    first.org
  • NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2026-42081

    free5GC is an open-source implementation of the 5G core network. Prior to 4.2.2, the AMF in Free5GC does not verify the UE Security Capabilities received in NGAP PathSwitchRequest messages against its locally stored values, as mandated by 3GPP TS 33.501 §6.7.3.1. A malicious gNB

    nvd.nist.gov

References

Freshness

Last verified in this catalog Oct 18, 2026. Significant claims (KEV, EPSS, CVSS, affected ranges) come from the source rows above — open the original publisher for the authoritative advisory.