NULL pointer dereference in OpenPrinting CUPS scheduler via print jobs
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 1 fixed, 5 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-476.
Summary
OpenPrinting CUPS before 2.4.20 contains a NULL pointer dereference (CWE-476) caused by repeated IPP group tags in job-creation requests. A client that can reach the scheduler can crash cupsd with a single crafted Print-Job request sent to an accepting, enabled queue, which disrupts all queues. Anonymous submission is possible under some listener and access-control configurations. A proof-of-concept exploit is linked in the references.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
Description from the CNA
OpenPrinting CUPS before 2.4.20 contains a NULL pointer dereference caused by repeated IPP group tags in job-creation requests. IPP parsing creates unnamed separator attributes with IPP_TAG_ZERO, but add_job() converts these separators to IPP_TAG_JOB. During job startup, get_options()/ipp_length() subsequently calls strlen() on a NULL attribute name, terminating cupsd and disrupting all queues. A single crafted Print-Job request can trigger the crash when the client can reach the scheduler and submit jobs to an accepting, enabled queue supporting the submitted document format. Anonymous submission is possible when permitted by listener and access-control configuration.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- No
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenPrinting | CUPS | before 2.4.20 | 2.4.20 | Patch available | CNA |
- CUPS VendorOpenPrinting Affected before 2.4.20 Fixed in 2.4.20 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:openprinting:cups:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 2.4.20 | Vulnerable | OpenPrinting |
- cpe:2.3:a:openprinting:cups:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2.4.20 Vulnerable ·OpenPrinting
Remediation
Upgrade OpenPrinting CUPS to version 2.4.20. Red Hat fixes Red Hat Hardened Images in RHSA-2026:81410, released 2026-10-12. Red Hat lists no available fix for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, 8, 9 and 10, and no fix planned for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
- Fix · CNA CUPS (OpenPrinting) Fixed in 2.4.20
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2026:81410 Released 2026-10-12 · Red Hat rating ModerateRed Hat Hardened Images RPMs Security Update
- Red Hat Hardened Images cups-2.4.19-4.5.hum1@aarch64, cups-2.4.19-4.5.hum1@s390x, cups-2.4.19-4.5.hum1@src +22
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
OpenPrinting CUPS 2.4.20
3 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 2 MEDIUM, 1 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2026-69843 Double free in OpenPrinting CUPS printer-class managementPriority MEDIUM 62
- TI-2026-69844 NULL pointer dereference in CUPS lets job submissions crash cupsdPriority LOW 24
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Hardened Images | Fixed | RHSA-2026:81410 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-09 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-107890
- 2026-10-10 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-10 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-13 Fix available: RHSA-2026:81410 · Red Hat
- 2026-10-13 Fix available: Red Hat Hardened Images · Red Hat
- 2026-10-13 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-13 Priority changed: LOW → MEDIUM
- 2026-10-21 CVSS score added · NVD
References
More OpenPrinting Cups vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-35903 cups has Authentication bypass with AuthType Negotiate CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.0
- TI-2023-17077 CUPS vulnerable to use-after-free in cupsdAcceptClient() CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.1
- TI-2026-27200 Path traversal in OpenPrinting cups CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.5
- TI-2023-04157 OpenPrinting CUPS/libppd Postscript Parsing Heap Overflow CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.0
- TI-2026-74874 Path traversal in OpenPrinting CUPS banner handling discloses files CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.3
- TI-2026-27201 OpenPrinting CUPS: Heap overflow in `get_options()` CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.3
Sources
- CVE-2026-107890 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-107890 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- CVE-2026-107890 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences