CVE-2026-18798
Publication date 25 August 2026
Last updated 2 September 2026
Ubuntu priority
Description
Issue summary: QUIC server may double free QRX (QUIC record layer RX) object when channel creation fails for initial packet. Impact summary: Double free leads to heap corruption, which typically results in termination of QUIC server process, leading to Denial of Service. There is so far no evidence that this double free is exploitable for remote code execution, thus it is considered highly improbable. CWE: CWE-415: Double Free Description: In order to validate initial packet, OpenSSL QUIC stack default packet handler (port_default_packet_handler()) creates a so-called QRX object. If the initial packet validates successfully with QRX object, the default packet handler proceeds to channel (connection object) creation. The QRX object used for packet validation is passed to port_bind_channel(), so it becomes part of the newly created connection. If port_bind_channel() fails, then it also frees the QRX object. Once port_bind_channel() returns, the port_default_packet_handler() detects the failure and proceeds to the error branch, where the same QRX object is freed for the second time. The failure in port_bind_channel() function can be induced with a relatively low effort by a malformed (non RFC 9000 compliant) INITIAL packet. If the packet carries DCID (destination connection ID) which is shorter than 8 bytes, then port_bind_channel() jumps to the error path after ossl_quic_lcidm_enrol_odcid() detects that the DCID has invalid length. FIPS impact: no The FIPS module is not affected, as the QUIC implementation is outside of the OpenSSL FIPS module boundary.
Status
| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
|---|---|---|
| openssl | 26.04 LTS resolute |
Fixed 3.5.5-1ubuntu3.4
|
| 24.04 LTS noble |
Not affected
|
|
| 22.04 LTS jammy |
Not affected
|
|
| 20.04 LTS focal |
Not affected
|
|
| 18.04 LTS bionic |
Not affected
|
|
| 16.04 LTS xenial |
Not affected
|
|
| 14.04 LTS trusty |
Not affected
|
|
| openssl-fips | 26.04 LTS resolute | Not in release |
| 24.04 LTS noble | Not in release | |
| 22.04 LTS jammy | Not in release | |
| openssl1.0 | 26.04 LTS resolute | Not in release |
| 24.04 LTS noble | Not in release | |
| 22.04 LTS jammy | Not in release | |
| 18.04 LTS bionic |
Not affected
|
|
| nodejs | 26.04 LTS resolute |
Not affected
|
| 24.04 LTS noble |
Not affected
|
|
| 22.04 LTS jammy |
Not affected
|
|
| 20.04 LTS focal |
Not affected
|
|
| 18.04 LTS bionic |
Needs evaluation
|
|
| 16.04 LTS xenial |
Needs evaluation
|
|
| 14.04 LTS trusty |
Not affected
|
|
| edk2 | 26.04 LTS resolute |
Needs evaluation
|
| 24.04 LTS noble |
Not affected
|
|
| 22.04 LTS jammy |
Not affected
|
|
| 20.04 LTS focal |
Not affected
|
|
| 18.04 LTS bionic |
Not affected
|
|
| 16.04 LTS xenial |
Not affected
|
|
| edk2-hwe | 26.04 LTS resolute |
Needs evaluation
|
| 24.04 LTS noble | Not in release | |
| 22.04 LTS jammy | Not in release |
Notes
mdeslaur
edk2 in jammy embeds OpenSSL 1.1.1j edk2 in noble embeds OpenSSL 3.0.9 edk2 in plucky embeds OpenSSL 3.4.0 edk2 in questing embeds OpenSSL 3.4.0 edk2 in resolute embeds OpenSSL 3.5.1 edk2 in stonking embeds OpenSSL 3.5.1 nodejs in jammy embeds OpenSSL 1.1.1m 4.0, 3.6, and 3.5 are vulnerable
Severity score breakdown
CVSS version: CVSS v3.0
Base score
7.5 · High
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
References
Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)
- USN-8678-1
- OpenSSL vulnerabilities
- 25 August 2026