Handover disruption via missing concurrent-procedure checks
Published May 27, 2026 · Updated May 27, 2026
Improper security validation in free5GC before 4.2.2 allows remote authenticated users to disrupt handovers through concurrent NAS and N2 procedures. SecurityMode() sends a NAS Security Mode Command without checking for an ongoing N2 handover, while handleHandoverRequiredMain() starts a handover without checking for an active command. Exploitation requires adjacent 5G network access, low privileges, and precise procedure timing; mismatched KAMF-derived keys can cause handover or security-verification failures.
Summary
What happened
Improper security validation in free5GC before 4.2.2 allows remote authenticated users to disrupt handovers through concurrent NAS and N2 procedures. SecurityMode() sends a NAS Security Mode Command without checking for an ongoing N2 handover, while handleHandoverRequiredMain() starts a handover without checking for an active command. Exploitation requires adjacent 5G network access, low privileges, and precise procedure timing; mismatched KAMF-derived keys can cause handover or security-verification failures.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-42082
- Published
- May 27, 2026
- Updated
- May 27, 2026
- Vendor
- free5GC
- Product
- free5GC
- Classifications
- CWE-358, T1498
- Attack vector
- adjacent
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 27, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 27, 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?
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- Affected versionversion=< 4.2.2
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Concurrent N2 handover and NAS SMC packet captureproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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