ausf: NULL Pointer Dereference
CVE-2026-33063 is a high-severity NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in ausf from Free5gc, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected ausf versions: < 1.4.2. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.69% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 53% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Free5gc to 1.4.2 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- 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
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- 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:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 8.7 | High | CNA (github.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | NVD |
Official description
free5GC is an open source 5G core network. free5GC AUSF prior to version 1.4.2 has is an Improper Null Check vulnerability leading to Denial of Service. All deployments of free5GC v4.0.1 using the AUSF UE authentication service (`/nausf-auth/v1/ue-authentications` endpoint) are affected. A remote attacker can cause the AUSF service to panic and crash by sending a crafted UE authentication request that triggers a nil interface conversion in the `GetSupiFromSuciSupiMap` function. This results in complete denial of service for the AUSF authentication service. The `GetSupiFromSuciSupiMap` function attempts to perform an interface conversion from `interface{}` to `*context.SuciSupiMap` without checking if the underlying value is nil. When `SuciSupiMap` is nil, the code panics with "interface conversion: interface {} is nil, not *context.SuciSupiMap". free5GC AUSF version 1.4.2 patches the issue. There is no direct workaround at the application level. The recommendation is to apply the provided patch or restrict access to the AUSF API to trusted sources only.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: NULL Pointer Dereference
The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- For any pointers that could have been modified or provided from a function that can return NULL, check the pointer for NULL before use. When working with a multithreaded or otherwise asynchronous environment, ensure that proper locking APIs are used to lock before the check, and unlock when it has finished.
- Select a programming language that is not susceptible to these issues.
- Check the results of all functions that return a value and verify that the value is non-null before acting upon it.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Other references
- github.com/free5gc/free5gc/issues/778Issue Tracking
Recent NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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