CVE-2026-32281Network attack vector

Service interruption via quadratic policy graph pruning

Published Apr 8, 2026 · Updated Apr 8, 2026

Algorithmic complexity in Go crypto/x509 before 1.25.9 and 1.26.0-0 through 1.26.1 allows remote attackers to interrupt services. In policiesValid, the policyMapping == 0 branch calls pg.prune for every PolicyMappings entry, repeatedly rescanning an already-built policy graph and producing roughly quadratic work. Reachability requires a chain that already builds to a trusted root, an earlier certificate that inhibits policy mapping, and an intermediate with many mappings; the bounded consequence is CPU-driven service interruption.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.36%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Algorithmic complexity in Go crypto/x509 before 1.25.9 and 1.26.0-0 through 1.26.1 allows remote attackers to interrupt services. In policiesValid, the policyMapping == 0 branch calls pg.prune for every PolicyMappings entry, repeatedly rescanning an already-built policy graph and producing roughly quadratic work. Reachability requires a chain that already builds to a trusted root, an earlier certificate that inhibits policy mapping, and an intermediate with many mappings; the bounded consequence is CPU-driven service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-32281
Published
Apr 8, 2026
Updated
Apr 8, 2026
Vendor
Go
Product
crypto/x509
Classifications
CWE-295, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 8, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 8, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <1.25.9
  2. Affected versionversion=1.26.0-0 <1.26.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Go · crypto/x509version=0 <1.25.9; version=1.26.0-0 <1.26.2

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-295Improper Certificate Validation
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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