High severity · published Oct 14, 2026
CVE-2026-73260
Mongoose: Out-of-bounds Read via length-counter underflow in built-in TLS X.509 DER parser
7.5
CVSS
0.2%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
Mongoose is an embedded web server and network library. Prior to 7.23, the built-in TLS certificate parser selected by MG_TLS_BUILTIN fails to verify that a long-form DER element length fits within the remaining certificate buffer. In mg_der_to_tlv() and mg_der_next(), a peer-controlled length can advance the parser beyond the certificate and underflow the remaining uint32_t length, causing mg_tls_parse_cert_der() to continue walking an invalid pointer. An unauthenticated malicious TLS server, or a client presenting a certificate to a server configured for client certificates, can trigger an out-of-bounds read and denial of service during the handshake. This issue is fixed in version 7.23.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges
None
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.2% · higher than 14% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
MO
mongoose · cesanta
< 7.23 · source: vendor
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-73260
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-73260
github.com
https://github.com/cesanta/mongoose/commit/a8b4ae95db3c2db85e5ad9db3fefaeebb5f7b43e
github.com
https://github.com/cesanta/mongoose/releases/tag/7.23
github.com
https://github.com/cesanta/mongoose/security/advisories/GHSA-f6wr-mg35-p25g
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