Medium [CVE-2026-38752] Denial of Service via crafted AWK script
This medium-severity Red Hat Linux advisory covers CVE-2026-38752 affecting Red Hat Hardened Images, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, Red Hat package: busybox.
Aggregated and source-linked by VulniPulse. Data sources, validation and limitations.
VulniPulse record published Record updated
Summary
A stack overflow in the evaluate() function (editors/awk.c) of BusyBox commit 371fe9 allows attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) via supplying a crafted AWK script. A flaw was found in BusyBox.
A Denial of Service attack can make the affected system or application unavailable to legitimate users. An attacker could provide a specially crafted AWK script, leading to a stack overflow and making the BusyBox instance unresponsive.
This vulnerability primarily affects systems where BusyBox is configured to execute untrusted AWK scripts, limiting its broader impact. Red Hat severity: Moderate — CVSS 6.5 (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).
Weakness: CWE-120. Affected Red Hat products: Red Hat Hardened Images; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.
Will not fix / out of support: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6. Red Hat fixing advisory: RHSA-2026:42074.
Affected products named by the advisory: Red Hat package: busybox.
Is CVE-2026-38752 exploited?
No exploitation is reported in the sources VulniPulse tracks: CVE-2026-38752 is not in the CISA KEV catalog (checked ) and this advisory does not report exploitation. That is not proof the vulnerability cannot be exploited.
How do I fix CVE-2026-38752?
Upgrade to a fixed release named by Red Hat:
- busybox-main-1.37.0-8.2.hum1
- RHSA-2026:42074
Confirm against the vendor advisory before you patch.
Affected versions
No affected-version range was extracted from the source record. The vendor advisory is authoritative. Check it before change work.
Official advisory · high-confidence parse· fetched 6 days ago·verify at source
- busybox-main-1.37.0-8.2.hum1
- RHSA-2026:42074
Official advisory · high-confidence parse· fetched 6 days ago·verify at source
Mitigation checklist
- For systems utilizing BusyBox, limit exposure by avoiding the execution of untrusted AWK scripts. Ensure that BusyBox instances are not configured to process arbitrary or untrusted AWK script input, particularly in environments where BusyBox is used for critical system functions.
Official advisory · high-confidence parse· fetched 6 days ago·verify at source
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