Client memory corruption via GSASL context double-free
Published Jul 3, 2026 · Updated Jul 3, 2026
Double free in GSASL authentication in curl 8.15.0 through 8.20.0 allows remote attackers to corrupt client memory via a SASL server. Curl_auth_gsasl_is_supported calls gsasl_done after gsasl_client_start fails but leaves gsasl->ctx non-NULL, so later cleanup frees the same context again. The path requires curl built with libgsasl and an IMAP, POP3, or SMTP exchange whose server behavior influences the failing authentication sequence; the vendor states that controlling the second free's target is difficult.
Summary
What happened
Double free in GSASL authentication in curl 8.15.0 through 8.20.0 allows remote attackers to corrupt client memory via a SASL server. Curl_auth_gsasl_is_supported calls gsasl_done after gsasl_client_start fails but leaves gsasl->ctx non-NULL, so later cleanup frees the same context again. The path requires curl built with libgsasl and an IMAP, POP3, or SMTP exchange whose server behavior influences the failing authentication sequence; the vendor states that controlling the second free's target is difficult.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-8925
- Published
- Jul 3, 2026
- Updated
- Jul 3, 2026
- Vendor
- curl
- Product
- curl
- Classifications
- CWE-415, T1203
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jul 3, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jul 3, 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.
- Affected versionversion=8.15.0 <=8.15.0
- Affected versionversion=8.16.0 <=8.16.0
- Affected versionversion=8.17.0 <=8.17.0
- Affected versionversion=8.18.0 <=8.18.0
- Affected versionversion=8.19.0 <=8.19.0
- Affected versionversion=8.20.0 <=8.20.0
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.
Public exploit references
- HackerOne report 3735193proof of concept · unverified
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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