Findings

Vulnerability · CVE-2026-39461

libcasper(3) communicates with helper processes via UNIX domain sockets, and uses the select(2) system call to wait for data to become available.

Published May 21, 2026 · corrected/updated Jul 23, 2026 · freebsd freebsd · evidence confidence high

libcasper(3) communicates with helper processes via UNIX domain sockets, and uses the select(2) system call to wait for data to become available. However, it does not verify that its socket descriptor fits within select(2)'s descriptor set size limit of FD_SETSIZE (1024). An attacker able to cause an application using libcasper(3) to allocate large file descriptors, e.g., by opening many descriptors and executing a program which is not careful to close them upon startup, may trigger stack corruption. If the target application runs with setuid root privileges, this could be used to escalate local privileges.

Grounded briefings

Catalog interpretations for three audiences. Each brief cites ingested metadata and the original advisories below. They are not independent research and they do not invent exploit steps.

Executive

CVE-2026-39461 is a high public vulnerability record for freebsd freebsd. It is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited catalog. Check the linked vendor or CERT advisories for patch status. This summary is a catalog interpretation of the ingested metadata and cites the original advisories below.

System administrator

Identify whether freebsd freebsd is in your estate, then compare installed versions with the affected ranges. Affected packages or ranges on record: freebsd/freebsd (14.3). Check the linked vendor or CERT advisories for patch status. Prefer the vendor or distribution advisory linked in Sources before changing production systems. This is a catalog interpretation, not a runbook.

Security analyst

Signals on file: CVSS 8.8, EPSS 0.2%. It is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited catalog. Weakness classes: CWE-121. Sources contributing to this record: cve_org, epss, nvd. Public exploit references, when present, are outbound links only and are not proof of active exploitation. This is a catalog interpretation of stored metadata.

Exploitation and remediation

  • Exploitation evidence

    Not listed as known exploited in CISA KEV. Not in CISA KEV or VulnCheck KEV.

  • Patch and remediation

    No required-action text is stored yet. Use the vendor or CERT links in Sources for patch availability.

  • Safe detection guidance

    Compare installed versions with the affected ranges below and verify the advisory from the original publisher. This site stores metadata and outbound links only; it does not ship exploit code or proof-of-concept payloads.

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

No public source repository is identified for this product.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. May 21, 2026 · NIST NVD

    Detected

    libcasper(3) communicates with helper processes via UNIX domain sockets, and uses the select(2) system call to wait for data to become available. However, it does not verify that its socket descriptor fits within select(2)'s descriptor set size limit of FD_SETSIZE (1024). An attacker able to cause an application using libcasper(3) to allocate large file descriptors, e.g., by opening many descripto

  2. Jul 23, 2026 · NIST NVD

    Updated

    libcasper(3) communicates with helper processes via UNIX domain sockets, and uses the select(2) system call to wait for data to become available. However, it does not verify that its socket descriptor fits within select(2)'s descriptor set size limit of FD_SETSIZE (1024). An attacker able to cause an application using libcasper(3) to allocate large file descriptors, e.g., by opening many descripto

Affected

  • cpe freebsd/freebsd14.3

Sources

  • CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2026-39461

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2026-39461

    30-day exploitation probability 0.2%

    first.org
  • NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2026-39461

    libcasper(3) communicates with helper processes via UNIX domain sockets, and uses the select(2) system call to wait for data to become available. However, it does not verify that its socket descriptor fits within select(2)'s descriptor set size limit of FD_SETSIZE (1024). An at

    nvd.nist.gov

References