Double Free in OpenSSL

CVE-2026-35188

Issue summary: A malicious server can exploit TLS OCSP stapling by delivering a crafted response through the status_request extension, triggering a double-free in the client's certificate verification path. Impact summary: Successful exploitation allows an attacker to corrupt heap memory via a double-free, potentially leading to a Denial of Service or possibly an attacker controlled code execution or other undefined behavior. If OCSP stapling is enabled and the TLS client connects to a malicious server, a crafted OCSP stapled response can trigger a double free in the TLS client when the stapled response is checked. The OCSP stapling is not enabled by default. Reliable code execution through a double-free is technically complex and highly environment-dependent but the Denial of Service impact is straightforward to achieve, warranting Moderate severity. No FIPS modules are affected by this issue as the affected code is outside the OpenSSL FIPS module boundary.

Vulnerability class: Double Free

Published · last modified .

CVSS v3 metric

CVSS v3 base score 5.0 (Medium). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L.

EPSS exploit prediction

EPSS: 0.002 (13.2th percentile), scored .

Very low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days; routine patching cadence is appropriate. 13th percentile — 13.2% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.

EPSS trend (30 days)EPSS over the last 30 days for CVE-2026-35188: held from 0.003 to 0.002.

EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.003 · newest: 0.002 · change: -0.001

Affected products

Weakness classification (CWE)

References

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-35188?
CVE-2026-35188 is a medium-severity vulnerability in OpenSSL, classified under Double Free. CVSS score: 5.0/10. Published 2026-06-09.
How severe is CVE-2026-35188?
Medium severity. CVSS v3 base score is 5.0 out of 10.