CVE-2026-44316
May 28, 2026, 6:31 p.m.
7.5
High
Description
free5GC is an open-source implementation of the 5G core network. Prior to 4.2.2, free5GC's PCF POST /npcf-smpolicycontrol/v1/sm-policies handler (HandleCreateSmPolicyRequest) panics with a nil-pointer dereference when a downstream OpenAPI consumer call (UDR lookup) returns 404 Not Found and the consumer wrapper returns err != nil together with a nil response struct. The handler logs the OpenAPI error and continues executing instead of returning, then dereferences the nil response struct on a subsequent line and panics. Gin recovery converts the panic into HTTP 500, so a single attacker-shaped POST returns 500 instead of a clean 4xx whenever the downstream lookup fails. The PCF process keeps running. The trigger is a single POST containing input that causes the downstream UDR lookup to fail (e.g. an unknown DNN). In 4.2.1 this endpoint is also reachable WITHOUT an Authorization header because the PCF Npcf_SMPolicyControl route group is mounted without inbound auth middleware. This vulnerability is fixed in 4.2.2.
Product(s) Impacted
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Free5gc |
|
|
Weaknesses
Common security weaknesses mapped to this vulnerability.
CWE-476
NULL Pointer Dereference
A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit.
*CPE(s)
Affected systems and software identified for this CVE.
| Type | Vendor | Product | Version | Update | Edition | Language | Software Edition | Target Software | Target Hardware | Other Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| a | free5gc | free5gc | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / |
Tags
CVSS Score
CVSS Data - 3.1
- Attack Vector: NETWORK
- Attack Complexity: LOW
- Privileges Required: NONE
- Scope: UNCHANGED
- Confidentiality Impact: NONE
- Integrity Impact: NONE
- Availability Impact: HIGH
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Timeline
Published: May 27, 2026, 5:16 p.m.
Last Modified: May 28, 2026, 6:31 p.m.
Last Modified: May 28, 2026, 6:31 p.m.
Status : Analyzed
CVE has been recently published to the CVE List and has been received by the NVD.
More infoSource
*Disclaimer: Some vulnerabilities do not have an associated CPE. To enhance the data, we use AI to infer CPEs based on CVE details. This is an automated process and might not always be accurate.