CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-12087NVD status: Deferred

Socket: Out-of-bounds Read

CVE-2026-12087 is a critical-severity out-of-bounds read vulnerability in Socket from Pevans, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 2.041 as the first without the flaw, so updating Socket to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.59% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Update Socket to 2.041 or a later version.
  2. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
NoneNothing can be modified.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H. Scored by CISA (ADP).

Official description

Socket versions before 2.041 for Perl have an out-of-bounds heap read. In Socket.xs, pack_ip_mreq_source() checks the length of its source argument before the argument is read, so the check tests the byte length carried over from the preceding multiaddr argument instead. Both addresses occupy a 4-byte field, so a valid multiaddr lets a source of any length pass the check, and the source is then copied into the 4-byte imr_sourceaddr field with a fixed-size copy. A source shorter than 4 bytes is not rejected, and the copy reads up to 3 bytes past the end of its buffer. Calling pack_ip_mreq_source() with a source value shorter than 4 bytes copies adjacent heap memory into the returned packed structure.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Out-of-bounds Read

The product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Use a language that provides appropriate memory abstractions.

More Out-of-bounds Read vulnerabilities (CWE-125)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Recent Out-of-bounds Read vulnerabilities

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