Description
A heap-based buffer overflow flaw was found in Cyrus SASL. The add_to_challenge() function in the DIGEST-MD5 plugin computes the size of the buffer needed for a challenge/response field before DIGEST-MD5 quoting is applied, but does not recompute that size when quoting (escaping special characters) makes the value longer. The under-sized buffer is then passed to strcat(), causing a heap-based out-of-bounds write whose size depends on attacker-controlled input. A malicious or on-path DIGEST-MD5 (or HTTP Digest) server can trigger this flaw in a connecting client by supplying a crafted challenge field, such as realm or nonce, most likely resulting in a crash of the client application.
Published: 2026-10-07
Score: 7.5 High
EPSS: n/a
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

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Remediation

Vendor Workaround

If DIGEST-MD5 authentication is not strictly required, remove the optional cyrus-sasl-md5 package to eliminate the vulnerable plugin: # dnf remove cyrus-sasl-md5 Alternatively, configure client applications to disable DIGEST-MD5 and HTTP Digest authentication methods, prioritizing stronger mechanisms such as GSSAPI or SCRAM. Caveat: Removing cyrus-sasl-md5 removes support for both DIGEST-MD5 and CRAM-MD5 mechanisms. Any client or server process depending on these algorithms will fail to negotiate authentication. Active services utilizing SASL may need to be restarted to unload the plugin from memory.

Tracking

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Advisories

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History

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 19:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A heap-based buffer overflow flaw was found in Cyrus SASL. The add_to_challenge() function in the DIGEST-MD5 plugin computes the size of the buffer needed for a challenge/response field before DIGEST-MD5 quoting is applied, but does not recompute that size when quoting (escaping special characters) makes the value longer. The under-sized buffer is then passed to strcat(), causing a heap-based out-of-bounds write whose size depends on attacker-controlled input. A malicious or on-path DIGEST-MD5 (or HTTP Digest) server can trigger this flaw in a connecting client by supplying a crafted challenge field, such as realm or nonce, most likely resulting in a crash of the client application.
Title Cyrus-sasl: heap buffer overflow in cyrus-sasl add_to_challenge() allows malicious server to crash or compromise digest-md5 clients
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
Redhat hummingbird
Redhat openshift
Weaknesses CWE-122
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:hummingbird:1
cpe:/a:redhat:openshift:4
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
Redhat hummingbird
Redhat openshift
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

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


Subscriptions

Redhat Enterprise Linux Hummingbird Openshift
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: redhat

Published:

Updated: 2026-10-07T19:29:28.164Z

Reserved: 2026-10-07T11:00:41.139Z

Link: CVE-2026-107161

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-10-07T20:17:10.977

Modified: 2026-10-07T20:17:10.977

Link: CVE-2026-107161

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-10-07T21:00:14Z

Weaknesses
  • CWE-122

    Heap-based Buffer Overflow