TI-2026-21038 Aliases CVE-2026-26024

NULL pointer dereference in free5gc smf

LOW 35CWE-476Published 2026-02-24 · Updated 2026-02-26

Key facts

Attack vector: Network
Privileges required: None
User interaction: None
Attack complexity: Low
Attack requirements: None
Impact type: Denial of service
Confidentiality · integrity · availability: None · None · High
Fix status: No fix listed

Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-476.

Summary

free5GC SMF provides Session Management Function for free5GC, an open-source project for 5th generation (5G) mobile core networks. In versions up to and including 1.4.1, SMF panics and terminates when processing a malformed PFCP SessionReportRequest on the PFCP (UDP/8805) interface. No known upstream fix is available, but some workarounds are available. ACL/firewall the PFCP interface so only trusted UPF IPs can reach SMF (reduce spoofing/abuse surface); drop/inspect malformed PFCP SessionReportRequest messages at the network edge where feasible, and/or add recover() around PFCP handler dispatch to avoid whole-process termination (mitigation only).

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV

EPSS 0.00351 28th percentileScored 2026-11-07

Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD

Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation: None
Automatable: Yes
Technical impact: Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

Vendor	Product	Affected versions	Fixed in	Status	Source
free5gc	smf	up to 1.4.1	—	No fix listed	CNA

smf Vendorfree5gc Affected up to 1.4.1 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPE	Versions	Role	Vendor
cpe:2.3:a:free5gc:smf::::::go::*	up to 1.4.1	Vulnerable	free5gc

cpe:2.3:a:free5gc:smf:*:*:*:*:*:go:*:* Versions up to 1.4.1 Vulnerable ·free5gc

Remediation

No fixed version listed by the sources yet.

Timeline

2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-26024

References

Exploit 1

https://github.com/free5gc/free5gc/issues/807

Advisory 1

https://github.com/free5gc/free5gc/security/advisories/GHSA-mrv4-m9wc-c4g9

TI-2023-25615 Buffer Overflow vulnerability in free5gc 3.3.0, UPF 1.2.0, and SMF 1.2.0 allows attackers… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
TI-2026-21039 NULL pointer dereference in free5gc smf CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.6
TI-2026-20612 NULL pointer dereference in free5gc smf CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.6
TI-2025-42686 free5GC hasProtocol Compliance Violation in UPF Leading to SMF Service Disruption CVSS 4.0LOW 2.7

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences