CVE-2026-42055 NGINX ngx_http_proxy_v2_module and ngx_http_grpc_module vulnerability

Critical 9.2 Published Updated

Remote attackers can trigger heap-based buffer overflows in NGINX via large headers, potentially causing service restarts or arbitrary code execution.

Exploited in the wild
Not known
Login needed
Not needed
Attackable
Over the internet
Victim action needed
Not needed
Fix
Available

What is CVE-2026-42055?

CVE-2026-42055 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Redhat Enterprise Linux, published on 17 Jun 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

Official description

NGINX Plus and NGINX Open Source have a vulnerability in the ngx_http_proxy_v2_module and ngx_http_grpc_module modules. This vulnerability exists when the proxy_http_version to 2 or grpc_pass directives are used to proxy HTTP/2 traffic, the ignore_invalid_headers directive is set to off, and the large_client_header_buffers directive size is larger than 2 megabytes. A remote, unauthenticated attacker, along with conditions beyond their control, could send large headers while creating an upstream request. This may cause a heap-based 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.

Weakness: CWE-787, CWE-131, CWE-122

Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-42055?

3 open source packages ship an affected version, including nginx, nginx-gateway and nginx-gateway-fabric. It affects 11 products.

PackageAffectedFixed in
nginx BitnamiFrom 1.30.01.30.3, 1.31.2
nginx-gateway BitnamiFrom 1.30.01.30.3, 1.31.2
nginx-gateway-fabric BitnamiFrom 1.3.02.6.4
Linux distribution packages (37)
nginx AlmaLinux:10All versions2:1.26.3-6.el10_2.5
nginx-all-modules AlmaLinux:10All versions2:1.26.3-6.el10_2.5
nginx-core AlmaLinux:10All versions2:1.26.3-6.el10_2.5
nginx-filesystem AlmaLinux:10All versions2:1.26.3-6.el10_2.5
nginx-mod-devel AlmaLinux:10All versions2:1.26.3-6.el10_2.5
nginx-mod-http-image-filter AlmaLinux:10All versions2:1.26.3-6.el10_2.5
nginx-mod-http-perl AlmaLinux:10All versions2:1.26.3-6.el10_2.5
nginx-mod-http-xslt-filter AlmaLinux:10All versions2:1.26.3-6.el10_2.5
nginx-mod-mail AlmaLinux:10All versions2:1.26.3-6.el10_2.5
nginx-mod-stream AlmaLinux:10All versions2:1.26.3-6.el10_2.5
nginx AlmaLinux:8All versions1:1.24.0-3.module_el8.10.0+4215+c88f2fa5.3.alma.1
nginx-all-modules AlmaLinux:8All versions1:1.24.0-3.module_el8.10.0+4215+c88f2fa5.3.alma.1
nginx-filesystem AlmaLinux:8All versions1:1.24.0-3.module_el8.10.0+4215+c88f2fa5.3.alma.1
nginx-mod-devel AlmaLinux:8All versions1:1.24.0-3.module_el8.10.0+4215+c88f2fa5.3.alma.1
nginx-mod-http-image-filter AlmaLinux:8All versions1:1.24.0-3.module_el8.10.0+4215+c88f2fa5.3.alma.1
nginx-mod-http-perl AlmaLinux:8All versions1:1.24.0-3.module_el8.10.0+4215+c88f2fa5.3.alma.1
nginx-mod-http-xslt-filter AlmaLinux:8All versions1:1.24.0-3.module_el8.10.0+4215+c88f2fa5.3.alma.1
nginx-mod-mail AlmaLinux:8All versions1:1.24.0-3.module_el8.10.0+4215+c88f2fa5.3.alma.1
nginx-mod-stream AlmaLinux:8All versions1:1.24.0-3.module_el8.10.0+4215+c88f2fa5.3.alma.1
nginx AlmaLinux:9All versions1:1.24.0-7.module_el9.8.0+278+b57266e8.3.alma.1
nginx AlmaLinux:9All versions2:1.20.1-28.el9_8.4.alma.1
nginx AlmaLinux:9All versions2:1.26.3-9.module_el9.8.0+281+75d5e6d4.2
nginx-all-modules AlmaLinux:9All versions1:1.24.0-7.module_el9.8.0+278+b57266e8.3.alma.1
nginx-all-modules AlmaLinux:9All versions2:1.20.1-28.el9_8.4.alma.1
nginx-all-modules AlmaLinux:9All versions2:1.26.3-9.module_el9.8.0+281+75d5e6d4.2
nginx-core AlmaLinux:9All versions1:1.24.0-7.module_el9.8.0+278+b57266e8.3.alma.1
nginx-core AlmaLinux:9All versions2:1.20.1-28.el9_8.4.alma.1
nginx-core AlmaLinux:9All versions2:1.26.3-9.module_el9.8.0+281+75d5e6d4.2
nginx-filesystem AlmaLinux:9All versions1:1.24.0-7.module_el9.8.0+278+b57266e8.3.alma.1
nginx-filesystem AlmaLinux:9All versions2:1.20.1-28.el9_8.4.alma.1
nginx-filesystem AlmaLinux:9All versions2:1.26.3-9.module_el9.8.0+281+75d5e6d4.2
nginx-mod-devel AlmaLinux:9All versions1:1.24.0-7.module_el9.8.0+278+b57266e8.3.alma.1
nginx-mod-devel AlmaLinux:9All versions2:1.20.1-28.el9_8.4.alma.1
nginx-mod-devel AlmaLinux:9All versions2:1.26.3-9.module_el9.8.0+281+75d5e6d4.2
nginx-mod-http-image-filter AlmaLinux:9All versions1:1.24.0-7.module_el9.8.0+278+b57266e8.3.alma.1
nginx-mod-http-image-filter AlmaLinux:9All versions2:1.20.1-28.el9_8.4.alma.1
nginx-mod-http-image-filter AlmaLinux:9All versions2:1.26.3-9.module_el9.8.0+281+75d5e6d4.2

Products include F5 Dos, F5 Nginx Gateway Fabric, F5 Nginx Ingress Controller, F5 Nginx Instance Manager, F5 Nginx Open Source, F5 Nginx Plus and 5 more.

How do I fix CVE-2026-42055?

Upgrade nginx to a fixed version for your release line: 1.30.3 or 1.31.2.

Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.

Is CVE-2026-42055 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-42055 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code: 1 proofs of concept on GitHub.

All Redhat Enterprise Linux vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as ALPINE-CVE-2026-42055, ALSA-2026:36331, ALSA-2026:36364, ALSA-2026:36618, ALSA-2026:36639, ALSA-2026:38847 and 33 more.

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