Pre-authentication Child SA creation via skipped state check
Published Sep 11, 2026 · Updated Sep 11, 2026
Authentication bypass in strongSwan 5.9.7 through 6.0.7 allows remote attackers to create a usable Child SA before authentication. libcharon's process_request() skips its IKE state check when passive tasks are queued, so a CREATE_CHILD_SA request reaches the child-create task on an unestablished IKE SA. Exploitation requires EAP and either no address pool or an explicit remote traffic selector; the installed SA is removed after the default 30-second timeout.
Summary
What happened
Authentication bypass in strongSwan 5.9.7 through 6.0.7 allows remote attackers to create a usable Child SA before authentication. libcharon's process_request() skips its IKE state check when passive tasks are queued, so a CREATE_CHILD_SA request reaches the child-create task on an unestablished IKE SA. Exploitation requires EAP and either no address pool or an explicit remote traffic selector; the installed SA is removed after the default 30-second timeout.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-78135
- Published
- Sep 11, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 11, 2026
- Vendor
- strongSwan
- Product
- strongSwan
- Classifications
- T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 11, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 11, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=5.9.7 <6.1.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Attacks
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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