# CVE-2026-44050: Netatalk heap buffer overflow in CNID daemon comm_rcv

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-44050-netatalk-heap-buffer-overflow-in-cnid-daemon-comm-rcv  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-05-21. Updated: 2026-05-21  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-44050 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.9 · Published 2026-05-21

Netatalk is an open-source implementation of the Apple Filing Protocol (AFP), allowing Unix-like systems to serve as file servers for macOS clients. A critical vulnerability in the CNID daemon component could allow an attacker to crash the file service or potentially execute unauthorized code. This could lead to a total loss of availability for network shares and compromise the security of the hosting server.

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-44050 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-44050 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-44050?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.9, published 21 May 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Netatalk team Netatalk 2.0.0 through 4.4.2.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-44050?** A patch was published on 2026-05-21: Version 4.4.3 released with fix Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-44050 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-44050?** Check whether anything you run is named in the advisory. 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 heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) exists in the Netatalk CNID daemon within the comm_rcv() function. The vulnerability is caused by the daemon trusting a client-supplied name length value, leading it to read attacker-controlled data into a fixed-size buffer. An authenticated attacker with network access to the CNID service can exploit this to overflow daemon memory. This can result in a denial-of-service (service crash) or potentially arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the daemon. The issue is resolved in version 4.4.3, and a workaround involves switching to the 'sqlite' CNID backend.

## Affected products

- Netatalk team Netatalk 2.0.0 through 4.4.2

## Timeline

- 2026-05-13: disclosed: Initial disclosure date reported by vendor
- 2026-05-21: advisory: NVD publication date
- 2026-05-21: patched: Version 4.4.3 released with fix

## References

- [https://netatalk.io/security/CVE-2026-44050](https://netatalk.io/security/CVE-2026-44050)