CVE-2026-97205 NGINX ngx_http_core_module vulnerability
Remote attackers can cause denial of service or execute code via a use-after-free in NGINX when asynchronous I/O and SSI are enabled.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-97205?
CVE-2026-97205 is a critical use after free vulnerability in F5 NGINX Open Source, published on 14 Oct 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_core_module module. When asynchronous file I/O (AIO) is enabled in certain configurations, processing a Server Side Includes (SSI) page containing “include virtual” commands may trigger a Use-After-Free (UAF) in the NGINX worker process. This may cause memory corruption or a worker process crash. 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, corrupt its memory, or possibly trigger 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.
Weakness: CWE-416
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-97205?
2 open source packages ship an affected version, including nginx and nginx-gateway.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
nginx Bitnami | From 1.30.0 | 1.30.6, 1.31.7 |
nginx-gateway Bitnami | From 1.30.0 | 1.30.6, 1.31.7 |
How do I fix CVE-2026-97205?
Upgrade nginx to a fixed version for your release line: 1.30.6 or 1.31.7.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2026-97205 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-97205 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Public exploit code: 1 proofs of concept on GitHub.
Sources
Also known as ALPINE-CVE-2026-97205, AZL-108443, BELL-CVE-2026-97205, BIT-nginx-2026-97205, BIT-nginx-gateway-2026-97205, CLSA-2026-1792571502 and 6 more.