CVE Intelligence
High Memory corruption

CVE-2026-78689 — NGINX ngx_http_js_module vulnerablility

Description NGINX JavaScript (njs) has a vulnerability in the XML module's namespace prefix list parser, reachable through the xml.exclusiveC14n() method. An unauthenticated remote attacker can trigger it when an affected NGINX configuration passes an externally controlled XML namespace prefix list to that method. Both the njs and the QuickJS (qjs) engines are affected. A crafted prefix list causes an out-of-bounds write past the end of a heap allocation. With the njs engine, which is the engine used when the js_engine directive is absent, this corrupts adjacent objects and crashes the NGINX worker. With the QuickJS engine, the same call additionally leaks the prefix list on every invocation, causing worker memory to grow across requests. The official nginxinc/nginx-saml reference implementation is affected during SAML signature verification. It reads InclusiveNamespaces/@PrefixList from an untrusted SAML message and passes it to xml.exclusiveC14n() before the signature has been verified, so a valid SAML signature is not required. A crafted SAML Response, Assertion, LogoutRequest, or LogoutResponse is sufficient. Code execution has not been demonstrated and cannot be ruled out for all platforms, as the effect of the out-of-bounds write depends on conditions beyond the attacker's control.   Impact This vulnerability allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service on the NGINX system, either through repeatable worker restarts or through worker memory growth or possibly trigger code execution. There is no control plane exposure; this is a data plane issue only. Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated.

Published Sep 2, 2026 · Updated Oct 15, 2026 · Sources: NIST National Vulnerability Database, CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP · CNA: f5

Who exploits it and how urgent it is

A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.

No exploitation signal in the sources consulted so far.
How the score was calculated
  • Technical severity (high)+6

The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).

Triage

Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.

Exploitation
Not confirmed
Not in CISA KEV — an absence of record, not proof it is unexploited.
EPSS FIRST
—
No EPSS score.
Affects
F5
NGINX JavaScript
CVSS base
8.1
High · 2 source(s)

CISA SSVC assessment CISA

Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.

Exploitation
None
none · proof-of-concept · active
Automatable
No
can an attacker script the kill-chain steps
Technical impact
Total
partial · total control of the vulnerable component

Remediation

Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.

No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.

First 24 hours

Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.

  1. Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (F5 NGINX JavaScript).
  2. The attack is network-based and needs no privileges: restrict exposure (ACLs, VPN, WAF) until patched.
  3. No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
  4. Search available logs for exploit probes matching the vulnerability class (memory corruption), errors and authentication anomalies.

Affected scope

Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.

VendorProductVersionsStatusSource
F5 NGINX JavaScript ≥ 0.7.10 and < 1.0.1 Vulnerable CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP

Attack characteristics

The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
High
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Every base score collected

Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.

ScoreVersionSeverityExpl.ImpactScored by
9.2 CVSS 4.0 Critical — — f5sirt@f5.com via NIST National Vulnerability Database
9.2 CVSS 4.0 Critical — — f5 via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP
8.1 CVSS 3.1 High 2.2 5.9 f5sirt@f5.com via NIST National Vulnerability Database
8.1 CVSS 3.1 High — — f5 via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H (score shown at the top: f5sirt@f5.com)

Weakness MITRE

Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.

CWE-122 · Heap-based Buffer Overflow

Other CVEs with this weakness →

Detection

Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.

  • Prioritize edge telemetry for the network-reachable component (proxy, WAF, IDS/IPS).
  • Correlate service crashes/restarts with inbound traffic; repeated crashes may indicate attempts.
web/proxy/WAF logsnetwork IDS/IPSendpoint telemetry (EDR)crash dumps

Timeline

What happened to this CVE, newest first.

  • 2026
  • Affected products added · f5/nginx javascript
    Oct 15, 2026 · CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP
  • SSVC assessment updated
    Oct 15, 2026 · CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP
  • Record published
    Oct 15, 2026
  • CVSS changed · 8.1
    Oct 15, 2026 · NIST National Vulnerability Database
  • Source status changed · → Awaiting Analysis
    Oct 15, 2026 · NIST National Vulnerability Database
  • Record created in this database
    Oct 15, 2026 · NIST National Vulnerability Database
  • CVE published
    Sep 2, 2026 · f5

Source activity

Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.

  • 1× Official description updated · Oct 15, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026

References

1 on the record

Elsewhere on this site

F5
every CVE for this vendor
Memory corruption
same class
CWE-122
other pages naming this weakness

Related CVEs (same products)

Not in any source we poll

Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.

  • No FIRST EPSS score.
  • No fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
  • No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
  • No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
  • No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.

Answered from this record

Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.

What should defenders know first?

CVE-2026-78689 is "NGINX ngx_http_js_module vulnerablility", rated High. It affects NGINX JavaScript (F5); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 8.1 describes technical severity. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.

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