CVE-2026-12996
HIGHCVSS 8.1/10EPSS 0.40%
Last modified
CVE-2026-12996 is a high-severity vulnerability rated 8.1/10 on the CVSS scale. A use-after-free in OpenVPN 2.6.0 through 2.6.20 and 2.7_alpha1 through 2.7.4 allows remote authenticated peers to potentially cause a denial of service or leak memory via crafted packets during TLS session promotion or expiry. EPSS estimates a 0.40% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.
Description
A use-after-free in OpenVPN 2.6.0 through 2.6.20 and 2.7_alpha1 through 2.7.4 allows remote authenticated peers to potentially cause a denial of service or leak memory via crafted packets during TLS session promotion or expiry
Metrics
Weakness Enumeration
Affected Software
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Openvpn | Openvpn | >= 2.6.0, < 2.6.21 |
| Openvpn | Openvpn | >= 2.7, < 2.7.5 |
| Debian | Debian Linux | 11.0 |
References
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2026/07/msg00013.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
Timeline
- Published
- Last Modified
- Status
- Analyzed
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-12996?
A use-after-free in OpenVPN 2.6.0 through 2.6.20 and 2.7_alpha1 through 2.7.4 allows remote authenticated peers to potentially cause a denial of service or leak memory via crafted packets during TLS session promotion or expiry
How severe is CVE-2026-12996?
CVE-2026-12996 has a CVSS score of 8.1/10 (HIGH severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.40% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
How do I fix CVE-2026-12996?
Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.
How Strix Helps
- How Strix found a critical auth bypass in etcdStrix autonomously discovered a critical authentication bypass in etcd, later designated CVE-2026-33413.
- Autonomous PentestingAI agents that find and validate exploitable vulnerabilities like this one across your applications.
- PR ReviewsPentest every pull request so vulnerable code is caught before it ships to production.
- AI Penetration TestingHow AI-driven penetration testing continuously covers your attack surface.
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Are you affected by CVE-2026-12996?
Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.
Scan your code nowSource: NVD / NIST