CVE-2026-38753

Use-After-Free in BusyBox Awk Leading to Denial of Service

Published Jul 15, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 4.9 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
A use-after-free in the awk_sub() function (editors/awk.c) of Busybox v1.38.0 allows attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) via supplying a crafted AWK script.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Title Use-After-Free in BusyBox Awk Leading to Denial of Service
Type Values Removed Values Added
Title Use-After-Free in BusyBox Awk Causes Denial of Service
Type Values Removed Values Added
Title Use-After-Free in BusyBox Awk Causes Denial of Service
Type Values Removed Values Added
Title BusyBox 1.38.0 AWK Use‑After‑Free Leading to Denial of Service
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:busybox:busybox:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 4.9, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Title BusyBox 1.38.0 AWK Use‑After‑Free Leading to Denial of Service
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-416
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Busybox
Busybox busybox
Vendors & Products Busybox
Busybox busybox
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A use-after-free in the awk_sub() function (editors/awk.c) of Busybox v1.38.0 allows attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) via supplying a crafted AWK script.
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
mitre
Published
Updated
Jul 20, 2026, 3:33 PM
Reserved
Apr 6, 2026, 12:00 AM
Status
Modified
Published
Jul 15, 2026, 9:16 PM
Modified
Jul 20, 2026, 4:16 PM