# CVE-2026-42014: GnuTLS use-after-free in gnutls_pkcs11_token_set_pin

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-42014-gnutls-use-after-free-in-gnutls-pkcs11-token-set-pin  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-06-16. Updated: 2026-06-16  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-42014 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.6 · Published 2026-06-16

A vulnerability was found in GnuTLS, a widely used library that provides secure communications for applications. The flaw exists in the component responsible for managing security hardware tokens, such as smart cards. An attacker with local access to a system could exploit this to cause a program to crash or potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information by manipulating how the library handles PIN changes.

Technologies: [Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/enterprise-linux-10), [Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/enterprise-linux-8), [Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/enterprise-linux-9). Vendors: [Red Hat](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/red-hat).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-42014 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-42014 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-42014?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.6, published 16 June 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 10.2; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 8.10; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 9.8.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-42014?** A patch was published on 2026-05-26: Red Hat released security updates RHSA-2026:20611, RHSA-2026:20612, and RHSA-2026:20613. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-42014 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-42014?** Check whether you run Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 or Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-825) exists in the `gnutls_pkcs11_token_set_pin` function within GnuTLS. The flaw is triggered when an attacker attempts to change the Security Officer PIN using a NULL value for the 'old PIN' on a token that does not have a protected authentication path. This leads to the dereference of an expired pointer. The attack vector is local, requiring low privileges and no user interaction. Successful exploitation can lead to a denial of service (application crash) or potentially limited data modification and disclosure. Patches have been released by Red Hat for Enterprise Linux versions 8, 9, and 10.

## Affected products

- GnuTLS GnuTLS 3.6.16-8.el8_10.6, 3.8.10-4.el9_8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 8.10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 9.8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 10.2

## Timeline

- 2026-05-26: patched: Red Hat released security updates RHSA-2026:20611, RHSA-2026:20612, and RHSA-2026:20613.
- 2026-06-16: disclosed: CVE-2026-42014 was published to the NVD.

## References

- [https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:20611](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:20611)
- [https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:20612](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:20612)
- [https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:20613](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:20613)
- [https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-42014](https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-42014)
- [https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2467451](https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2467451)
- [https://gitlab.com/gnutls/gnutls/-/issues/1766](https://gitlab.com/gnutls/gnutls/-/issues/1766)
- [https://www.gnutls.org/security-new.html](https://www.gnutls.org/security-new.html)

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