CVE-2026-35188

Description

Issue summary: A malicious server can exploit TLS OCSP stapling by delivering a crafted response through the status_request extension, triggering a double-free in the client's certificate verification path. Impact summary: Successful exploitation allows an attacker to corrupt heap memory via a double-free, potentially leading to a Denial of Service or possibly an attacker controlled code execution or other undefined behavior. If OCSP stapling is enabled and the TLS client connects to a malicious server, a crafted OCSP stapled response can trigger a double free in the TLS client when the stapled response is checked. The OCSP stapling is not enabled by default. Reliable code execution through a double-free is technically complex and highly environment-dependent but the Denial of Service impact is straightforward to achieve, warranting Moderate severity. No FIPS modules are affected by this issue as the affected code is outside the OpenSSL FIPS module boundary.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

5.0

MEDIUM

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

EPSS — Exploit Prediction

0.0025

Probability of exploitation

0.16%

Percentile rank

EPSS estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. A higher score means more likely to be exploited.

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-415 CWE-415

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
openssl	openssl	3.6.0 — 3.6.3
openssl	openssl	All

References

Advisories & Patches

https://github.com/openssl/openssl/commit/131145d25659e8749a9ed1afb383484854cffb78 https://github.com/openssl/openssl/commit/78d0154cffda03aaaac63a087cc523a6b35fa8fd https://openssl-library.org/news/secadv/20260609.txt

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-35188? +

Issue summary: A malicious server can exploit TLS OCSP stapling by delivering a crafted response through the status_request extension, triggering a double-free in the client's certificate verification path. Impact summary: Successful exploitation allows an attacker to corrupt heap memory via a double-free, potentially leading to a Denial of Service or possibly an attacker controlled code execution or other undefined behavior. If OCSP stapling is enabled and the TLS client connects to a malicious server, a crafted OCSP stapled response can trigger a double free in the TLS client when the stapled response is checked. The OCSP stapling is not enabled by default. Reliable code execution through a double-free is technically complex and highly environment-dependent but the Denial of Service impact is straightforward to achieve, warranting Moderate severity. No FIPS modules are affected by this issue as the affected code is outside the OpenSSL FIPS module boundary. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.0 (MEDIUM).

How severe is CVE-2026-35188? +

CVE-2026-35188 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 5.0 out of 10, rated MEDIUM. This is a medium-severity vulnerability that should be remediated as part of regular maintenance. The EPSS score is 0.0025, placing it in the 0th percentile for exploitation probability.

What products are affected by CVE-2026-35188? +

CVE-2026-35188 affects products from openssl, specifically: openssl. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2026-35188? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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