Medium [CVE-2026-38755] Denial of Service via heap overflow in evalcommand function
This medium-severity Red Hat Linux advisory covers CVE-2026-38755 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 heap overflow in the evalcommand() function (shell/ash.c) of Busybox v1.38.0 allows attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) via supplying a crafted input. A flaw was found in Busybox.
This can lead to the unavailability of the service. The vulnerability requires an attacker to supply specially crafted input, which typically implies existing local access or specific application interactions within the Busybox environment, thus limiting the direct exposure.
Red Hat severity: Moderate — CVSS 5.5 (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/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-2026-38755 exploited?
No exploitation is reported in the sources VulniPulse tracks: CVE-2026-38755 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-2026-38755?
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
- Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base, or stability.
Official advisory · high-confidence parse· fetched 6 days ago·verify at source
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