Busybox 1.38.0 AWK editors/awk.c awk_sub use after free

CVSS Meta Temp Score
CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.
Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
6.5$0-$5k0.29+

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Busybox 1.38.0. It has been declared as critical. This affects the function awk_sub of the file editors/awk.c of the component AWK Handler. Executing a manipulation can lead to use after free. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2026-38753. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. No exploit is available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Busybox 1.38.0. It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects the function awk_sub of the file editors/awk.c of the component AWK Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. As an impact it is known to affect availability. CVE summarizes:

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.

This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-38753 since 04/06/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 07/15/2026).

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Name

Version

License

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.5

VulDB Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Temp Score: 6.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Use after free
CWE: CWE-416 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Timelineinfo

04/06/2026 CVE reserved
07/15/2026 +100 days Advisory disclosed
07/15/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
07/15/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Status: Not defined

CVE: CVE-2026-38753 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-38753
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-379420

Entryinfo

Created: 07/15/2026 23:19
Changes: 07/15/2026 23:19 (52)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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