Description
NGINX Plus and NGINX Open Source have a vulnerability in the ngx_http_rewrite_module module. This vulnerability exists when the rewrite directive is followed by a rewrite, if, or set directive and an unnamed Perl-Compatible Regular Expression (PCRE) capture (for example, $1, $2) with a replacement string that includes a question mark (?). An unauthenticated attacker along with conditions beyond its control can exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted HTTP requests. This may cause a heap buffer overflow in the NGINX worker process leading to a restart. Additionally, attackers can execute code on systems with Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) disabled or when the attacker can bypass ASLR.  Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated.
Published: 2026-05-13
Score: 9.2 Critical
EPSS: 66.0% High
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

Analysis and contextual insights are available on OpenCVE Cloud.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

Additional remediation guidance may be available on OpenCVE Cloud.

Tracking

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Advisories
Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4589-1 nginx security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6278-1 nginx security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8271-1 nginx vulnerability
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8375-1 nginx vulnerabilities
References
Link Providers
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:17417 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:17751 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:17752 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:17753 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:17790 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:17791 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:17792 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:17793 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:17794 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:18029 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:18041 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:18063 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:19159 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:19371 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:19372 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:19374 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:20442 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:20444 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:21275 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:22382 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:22383 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:22388 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:22389 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:22390 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:22393 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:22394 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:22396 cve-icon
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-42945 cve-icon
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2477116 cve-icon
https://depthfirst.com/nginx-rift cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/DepthFirstDisclosures/Nginx-Rift cve-icon
https://my.f5.com/manage/s/article/K000161019 cve-icon cve-icon cve-icon
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-42945 cve-icon
https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-42945.json cve-icon
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-42945 cve-icon
History

Thu, 21 May 2026 19:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description NGINX Plus and NGINX Open Source have a vulnerability in the ngx_http_rewrite_module module. This vulnerability exists when the rewrite directive is followed by a rewrite, if, or set directive and an unnamed Perl-Compatible Regular Expression (PCRE) capture (for example, $1, $2) with a replacement string that includes a question mark (?). An unauthenticated attacker along with conditions beyond its control can exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted HTTP requests. This may cause a heap buffer overflow in the NGINX worker process leading to a restart. Additionally, for systems with Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR ) disabled, code execution is possible.  Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated. NGINX Plus and NGINX Open Source have a vulnerability in the ngx_http_rewrite_module module. This vulnerability exists when the rewrite directive is followed by a rewrite, if, or set directive and an unnamed Perl-Compatible Regular Expression (PCRE) capture (for example, $1, $2) with a replacement string that includes a question mark (?). An unauthenticated attacker along with conditions beyond its control can exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted HTTP requests. This may cause a heap buffer overflow in the NGINX worker process leading to a restart. Additionally, attackers can execute code on systems with Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) disabled or when the attacker can bypass ASLR.  Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated.

Thu, 14 May 2026 20:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References

Thu, 14 May 2026 12:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-131
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

threat_severity

Critical


Thu, 14 May 2026 02:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References

Wed, 13 May 2026 17:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared F5
F5 nginx Open Source
F5 nginx Plus
Vendors & Products F5
F5 nginx Open Source
F5 nginx Plus

Wed, 13 May 2026 16:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Wed, 13 May 2026 15:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description NGINX Plus and NGINX Open Source have a vulnerability in the ngx_http_rewrite_module module. This vulnerability exists when the rewrite directive is followed by a rewrite, if, or set directive and an unnamed Perl-Compatible Regular Expression (PCRE) capture (for example, $1, $2) with a replacement string that includes a question mark (?). An unauthenticated attacker along with conditions beyond its control can exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted HTTP requests. This may cause a heap buffer overflow in the NGINX worker process leading to a restart. Additionally, for systems with Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR ) disabled, code execution is possible.  Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated.
Title NGINX ngx_http_rewrite_module vulnerability
Weaknesses CWE-122
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

cvssV4_0

{'score': 9.2, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}


Subscriptions

F5 Dos Nginx Gateway Fabric Nginx Ingress Controller Nginx Instance Manager Nginx Open Source Nginx Plus Waf
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: f5

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-11T12:04:51.857Z

Reserved: 2026-04-30T23:04:27.955Z

Link: CVE-2026-42945

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-05-14T18:54:21.853Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Modified

Published: 2026-05-13T16:16:50.190

Modified: 2026-08-11T13:18:53.117

Link: CVE-2026-42945

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Critical

Publid Date: 2026-05-13T14:12:43Z

Links: CVE-2026-42945 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-08-06T15:00:11Z

Weaknesses