ZeroHour

CVE-2026-19489

mass

Unauthenticated Buffer Overflow in Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway

CVSS 4.0
8.8 high
EPSS
<1%p32
Published
()
Modified
AI analysis

CVE-2026-19489 is a vulnerability in Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway classified as a classic buffer overflow (CWE-120), meaning input is copied into a buffer without adequate size checks; it was disclosed by Citrix alongside CVE-2026-19490, the authentication bypass receiving most of the headline attention. Per the CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N), the flaw is reachable over the network by an unauthenticated remote attacker with no user interaction, though detailed trigger conditions are not spelled out in the CVE description. The scoring (VC:L/VI:L/VA:H, base 8.8 High) indicates the primary impact is to availability — likely crashes or denial of service on the appliance — with low confidentiality and integrity impact. All organizations running NetScaler ADC or NetScaler Gateway 14.1 releases through build 73.32, or 13.1 releases through build 63.21, fall within the affected ranges. There is no evidence of exploitation so far: the issue is not in CISA KEV, has no known public proof-of-concept, and EPSS estimates only a 0.4% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days (32nd percentile).

What to do: Upgrade affected NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway deployments to the fixed builds identified in Citrix's advisory (see AL26-019 and CISA advisory AV26-833 Update 1); affected ranges are 14.1 through build 73.32 and 13.1 through build 63.21. Until patched, limit internet exposure of appliance interfaces and monitor Citrix channels for signs of exploitation. Also verify whether the same appliances are affected by the related CVE-2026-19490 authentication bypass fixed in the same advisory.

Affected
Citrix NetScaler ADC (formerly Citrix ADC)14.1 releases through build 73.32; 13.1 releases through build 63.21
Citrix NetScaler Gateway (formerly Citrix Gateway)14.1 releases through build 73.32; 13.1 releases through build 63.21
Estimated exposure
mass≈100,000+ internet-exposed NetScaler ADC/Gateway appliances (order-of-magnitude estimate; not all run affected builds) — NetScaler ADC/Gateway appliances sit at the network edge of a large share of mid-size and large enterprises, and public internet-wide scans (Shodan/Censys) have repeatedly catalogued on the order of 100,000 or more exposed NetScaler…

Order-of-magnitude estimate by the model from install counts, market share and public scan data it knows; verify before quoting.

Description

Vulnerability in NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway. This issue affects ADC: from 14.1 through 73.32 and from 13.1 through 63.21; Gateway: from 14.1 through 73.32 and from 13.1 through 63.21.

Weakness
CWE-120
Vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:L/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X

In the news

Citrix urges customers to fix critical NetScaler authentication bypass (CVE-2026-19490)

Citrix patched a critical authentication bypass, CVE-2026-19490, in NetScaler Gateway and NetScaler ADC, urging customers to upgrade immediately.

Citrix has patched two flaws in NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway. CVE-2026-19490 is a critical authentication bypass (CVSS v4.0 9.3) that works when the appliance is configured as an SSL VPN, ICA Proxy, CVPN, RDP Proxy Gateway or AAA virtual server, with additional conditions depending on firmware and SAML configuration. A second flaw, CVE-2026-19489 (CVSS 8.8), is a memory overflow that can cause denial of service when SIP ALG is enabled on LSN setups. Rapid7 had not observed exploitation as of August 19, 2026, but urged emergency patching; a signature-based mitigation is available via NetScaler Console.

Critical NetScaler Flaw Can Bypass Authentication on Certain Gateway and AAA Servers

Citrix patches critical NetScaler Gateway and AAA authentication bypass CVE-2026-19490 (CVSS 9.3) plus a SIP ALG memory overflow flaw; exploitation attempts observed.

Citrix fixed CVE-2026-19490 (CVSS 9.3), an authentication bypass affecting customer-managed NetScaler ADC and Gateway appliances configured as Gateway (SSL VPN, ICA Proxy, CVPN, RDP Proxy) or AAA virtual servers, and CVE-2026-19489 (CVSS 8.8), a memory overflow causing DoS when SIP ALG is enabled in Large Scale NAT groups. Updates are available in versions 14.1-73.32, 13.1-63.21, and corresponding FIPS/NDcPP builds, while Citrix-managed cloud services were already patched. The flaws were reported by Samarth Vashisht of JPMorgan Chase's penetration-testing team, and Previdian later observed 10 exploitation attempts against CVE-2026-19490 from six unique IP addresses in Australia, Germany, Japan, and the US, with no confirmed compromise.

Citrix security advisory (AV26-833) - Update 1

CISA added actively exploited NetScaler flaw CVE-2026-19490 to its KEV catalog; the Canadian Cyber Centre urges Citrix ADC and Gateway admins to patch.

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security updated advisory AV26-833 covering Citrix NetScaler ADC and Gateway vulnerabilities in versions 13.1 (prior to 13.1-63.21) and 14.1 (prior to 14.1-73.32), plus FIPS builds. On September 9, 2026, CISA added CVE-2026-19490 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, indicating confirmed exploitation. The bulletin also references CVE-2026-19489 from the Citrix NetScaler ADC and Gateway Security Bulletin. Administrators should apply the fixed builds, including 13.1-37.277 and 14.1-73.32 for FIPS variants.

AL26-019 - Vulnerabilities impacting Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway - CVE-2026-19490 and CVE-2026-19489

Canadian Cyber Centre alerts on Citrix NetScaler ADC/Gateway flaws CVE-2026-19490 (authentication bypass) and CVE-2026-19489 (buffer overflow), urging emergency patching.

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security issued alert AL26-019 covering two Citrix NetScaler vulnerabilities disclosed in a vendor advisory on August 19, 2026. CVE-2026-19490 (CWE-288) allows a remote unauthenticated attacker to bypass authentication on appliances configured as a Gateway for SSL VPN, ICA Proxy, CVPN, RDP Proxy, or as an AAA virtual server. CVE-2026-19489 (CWE-120) is a classic buffer overflow that may cause memory overflow, unpredictable behavior, or denial-of-service conditions. Affected appliances are vulnerable when configured as a SAML IdP; fixed versions include 14.1-73.32, 13.1-63.21, and 13.1-37.277 for FIPS.

2026-010: Critical Vulnerabilities in Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway

Citrix patched NetScaler ADC/Gateway: auth bypass CVE-2026-19490 (CVSS 9.3) on Gateway/AAA configs and memory overflow CVE-2026-19489 (CVSS 8.8) requiring SIP ALG.

On 19 August 2026 Citrix published an advisory fixing two critical-severity issues in NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway versions 14.1 before 14.1-73.32 and 13.1 before 13.1-63.21, plus FIPS/NDcPP builds. CVE-2026-19490 (CVSS 9.3) is an authentication bypass via alternate path, exploitable when the appliance is configured as a Gateway (SSL VPN, ICA Proxy, CVPN, RDP Proxy) or AAA virtual server, with a SAML action condition on newer builds. CVE-2026-19489 (CVSS 8.8) is a memory overflow causing unpredictable behaviour or denial of service, requiring SIP ALG enabled on a Large Scale NAT group. CERT-EU recommends applying updated builds as soon as possible.