# CVE-2026-76524: Open Source Snort 3 control channel socket arbitrary command execution

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-76524-a-vulnerability-in-the-control-channel-socket-implementation-of  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-21. Updated: 2026-10-21  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-76524 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-10-21

Open Source Snort 3 is a network intrusion detection and prevention system used to monitor and protect network traffic. A vulnerability in its control channel socket implementation allows a local attacker with low privileges to execute arbitrary commands and modify the Snort process memory, potentially gaining control of the security monitoring system itself and compromising the data it protects.

Vendors: [Cisco](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/cisco).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-76524 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-76524 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-76524?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 21 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Cisco Open Source Snort 3 3.x prior to 3.12.4.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-76524?** Yes: fixed in 3.12.4.0. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-76524 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-76524?** Check whether you run Cisco Open Source Snort 3 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.

## How to fix

- Fixed in 3.12.4.0

## Technical details

The vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication checks in the control channel socket implementation (CWE-306), allowing an authenticated local attacker to connect without proper verification. An attacker can exploit this by connecting to the Snort control channel socket and executing arbitrary commands as the Snort process user, as well as reading and writing process memory. A fix is available in Snort 3.12.4.0 and later.

## Affected products

- Cisco Open Source Snort 3 3.x prior to 3.12.4.0

## Timeline

- 2026-10-21: disclosed

## References

- [https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-opensrc-snort3-2fXGJPfe](https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-opensrc-snort3-2fXGJPfe)

## Related threats

- [Cisco Snort 3 Detection Engine denial of service in HTTP JavaScript normalization](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20066-cisco-snort-3-detection-engine-denial-of-service-in-http)