High severity · published Jul 15, 2026
CVE-2026-42533
NGINX Map directive and Regex matching vulnerability
8.1
CVSS
0.9%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
A vulnerability exists in NGINX Plus and NGINX Open Source when a map directive uses regex matching and a string expression references the map's regex capture variables before referencing the map output variable. Alternatively, the same result could be achieved by using a non-cacheable variable in a string expression under certain conditions. An unauthenticated attacker along with conditions beyond their 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.
Impact:
This vulnerability may allow remote attackers to cause a denial-of-service (DoS) on the NGINX system or to possibly trigger a code execution. There is no control plane exposure; this is a data plane issue only.
Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
High
Privileges
None
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.9% · higher than 59% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
NO
NGINX Open Source · F5
1.31.2 before 1.31.3; 0.9.6 before 1.30.4 · source: vendor
NP
NGINX Plus · F5
37.0.0.1 before 37.0.3.1; R36 before R36 P7; R33 · source: vendor, NVD
NG
Nginx Gateway Fabric · F5
1.3.0 through 1.6.2; 2.0.0 before 2.6.7 · source: NVD
NI
Nginx Ingress Controller · F5
3.5.0 through 3.7.2; 5.0.0 before 5.5.3; 2026-lts-r1 before 2026-lts-r4; 4.0.0; 4.0.1 · source: NVD
WA
Waf · F5
4.11.0 through 4.16.0; 5.2.0 through 5.8.0; 5.9.0 before 5.13.4 · source: NVD
In the news
VulnerabilityCritical
CVE-2026-42533: Critical NGINX Bug Could Turn HTTP Requests Into Server Takeovers
F5 fixes critical nginx flaw CVE-2026-42533 that can crash servers and, in some cases, allow remote code execution through crafted HTTP requests. F5 released patches for a critical nginx vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-42533 (CVSS score of 9.2), that can allow an unauthenticated attacker to trigger a heap buffer overflow using specially crafted HTTP requests. “heap […]
Jul 20, 2026·Security Affairs
VulnerabilityCritical
Critical NGINX Vulnerability Can Crash Workers and May Allow Remote Code Execution
F5 has shipped fixes for a critical nginx flaw that lets a remote, unauthenticated attacker trigger a heap buffer overflow in the worker process with crafted HTTP requests. CVE-2026-42533 was patched on July 15 in nginx 1.30.4 (stable) and 1.31.3 (mainline), and in NGINX Plus 37.0.3.1; anyone on an earlier build should upgrade.
Triggering it can crash or restart the worker, causing a denial of
Jul 19, 2026·The Hacker News
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-42533
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-42533
Vendor Advisory
https://my.f5.com/manage/s/article/K000162097
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