Citrix NetScaler Under Active Recon for CVE-2026

Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway appliances contain a buffer overflow (CWE-119) that leaks sensitive information from device memory when the appliance is configured as a Gateway (VPN virtual server, ICA Proxy, CVPN, or RDP Proxy) or as an AAA virtual server. A remote attacker who can reach such a configuration can trigger the overflow and read memory contents, harvesting sensitive data such as session tokens (a technique that enables session hijacking which can bypass multi-factor authentication). Any organization running an affected NetScaler ADC or Gateway appliance in these configurations is exposed, with appliances deployed as VPN or access gateways being the primary concern. Exploitation is confirmed in the wild: the flaw was added to CISA's KEV catalog on 2023-10-18 with known ransomware use and a 100% EPSS exploitation probability, although no public proof-of-concept is known at this time. Because tokens stolen from memory can remain valid even after patching, responders must terminate all active and persistent sessions as part of remediation.

Do: Upgrade affected appliances to the patched builds cited in Citrix's advisory, then immediately kill all active and persistent ICA/AAA sessions per the vendor instructions, since patching alone does not invalidate session tokens attackers may have already stolen. If patching is not immediately possible, discontinue use of the affected Gateway/AAA configurations as CISA directs. Given known ransomware abuse, also hunt for signs of exploitation such as logins from unexpected sources, anomalous session reuse, or suspicious mailbox changes, and reset credentials for potentially exposed accounts.

Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway contain an out-of-bounds read (CWE-125) caused by insufficient input validation, which can cause the appliance to read beyond the intended memory buffer (a memory overread). The flaw is only triggerable when the appliance is configured as a Gateway (VPN virtual server, ICA Proxy, CVPN, or RDP Proxy) or as an AAA virtual server, so attackers who can reach those services can potentially induce the overread and obtain sensitive memory contents. Such disclosure could aid follow-on compromise, for example by exposing session or authentication data, and CISA notes known ransomware use. Organizations running NetScaler ADC or NetScaler Gateway in the affected Gateway/AAA configurations are exposed. The vulnerability was added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2025-07-10 with known ransomware use and an EPSS of 100% (100th percentile), indicating active exploitation, while no public PoC is known and a CVSS score has not yet been assigned.

Do: Apply the fixed NetScaler ADC/Gateway builds per Citrix's security advisory (exact affected/fixed version ranges are not in the available data, so consult the bulletin); per CISA KEV, apply vendor mitigations, follow BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use if mitigations are unavailable. Inventory appliances for Gateway (VPN virtual server, ICA Proxy, CVPN, RDP Proxy) or AAA virtual server configurations, since unconfigured/other deployments are not triggerable. After patching, terminate active and idle VPN sessions and hunt for anomalous access, given the known ransomware exploitation and the information-disclosure nature of the flaw.

Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway appliances contain a memory buffer overflow (CWE-119) that can lead to unintended control flow and denial of service. The flaw is only reachable when the appliance is configured as a Gateway (VPN virtual server, ICA Proxy, CVPN, or RDP Proxy) or as an AAA virtual server, and it is network-exploitable without authentication or user interaction, though attack complexity is rated high. A successful attacker could achieve unintended control flow — with the CVSS 4.0 vector rating impact high across confidentiality, integrity, and availability — or crash the appliance, disrupting VPN access and application delivery. Any organization running NetScaler ADC or NetScaler Gateway in an affected Gateway/AAA configuration is exposed, a population that public scan data places in the tens of thousands of internet-exposed devices. The vulnerability was added to CISA's KEV catalog on 2025-06-30, confirming exploitation in the wild, with EPSS at 10.1% and no public proof-of-concept known.

Do: Apply the patched NetScaler release specified in Citrix's security bulletin for CVE-2025-6543 immediately, prioritizing appliances in Gateway or AAA configurations, per CISA KEV and BOD 22-01 requirements. Audit which virtual servers (VPN, ICA Proxy, CVPN, RDP Proxy, AAA) are in use and whether they are internet-exposed, and check appliances for signs of compromise before and after upgrading.

CVE-2025-7775 is a memory overflow (CWE-119) in Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway that can lead to remote code execution and/or denial of service. It is triggered when the appliance is configured as a Gateway (VPN virtual server, ICA Proxy, CVPN, or RDP Proxy) or AAA virtual server, or — on 13.1, 14.1, 13.1-FIPS, and NDcPP builds — when load-balancing virtual servers of type HTTP, SSL, or HTTP_QUIC are bound with IPv6 services or servicegroups with IPv6 servers (including DBS IPv6), or a CR virtual server of type HDX is in use. A remote, unauthenticated attacker (CVSS 4.0 network vector with no privileges required) who triggers the memory overflow can execute code with high impact on confidentiality and integrity or crash the device. Organizations running NetScaler in these exposed configurations, notably as remote-access gateways, are affected. Exploitation is confirmed in the wild: Citrix has confirmed active exploitation, the flaw was added to CISA's KEV catalog on 2025-08-26, and EPSS estimates a 19.6% probability of exploitation within 30 days (97th percentile).

Do: Upgrade all NetScaler ADC and Gateway appliances to the patched builds on the 13.1, 14.1, 13.1-FIPS, and NDcPP release trains identified in Citrix's security bulletin, prioritizing internet-facing devices. Audit configurations for Gateway (VPN/ICA Proxy/CVPN/RDP Proxy) or AAA virtual servers, HTTP/SSL/HTTP_QUIC LB virtual servers with IPv6 bindings, and CR virtual servers of type HDX to confirm exposure. The KEV listing makes applying vendor mitigations or the upgrade mandatory for US federal agencies under BOD 22-01.

CVE-2026-3055 is an out-of-bounds read (CWE-125) in Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway caused by insufficient input validation when the appliance is configured as a SAML Identity Provider (IDP). An unauthenticated remote attacker can trigger the flaw by sending crafted input to the SAML IDP functionality, causing the appliance to read beyond the bounds of allocated memory and potentially disclose sensitive information from it. The CVSS 4.0 base score of 9.3 (critical) reflects a network-vector flaw requiring no privileges or user interaction. Only organizations running NetScaler ADC or NetScaler Gateway appliances with SAML IDP configured are affected, according to the available data. The flaw was added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2026-03-30, carries an 87.2% EPSS probability of exploitation within 30 days, has a public proof-of-concept, and headlines indicate active reconnaissance and exploitation against NetScaler deployments, including federal patch directives.

Do: Apply the patched NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway releases from Citrix's advisory as soon as possible, prioritizing internet-facing appliances (exact fixed version numbers are not in this data; check the vendor bulletin). Determine whether SAML IDP is configured on your appliances and, if it is not needed, disable or unbind it as an interim mitigation while reviewing appliance logs for suspicious authentication or reconnaissance traffic. Federal agencies must follow the CISA required action and BOD 22-01 guidance, with CISA directing patching by the stated Thursday deadline.