CVE-2026-35549·MariaDB vulnerability
An issue was discovered in MariaDB Server before 11.4.10, 11.5.x through 11.8.x before 11.8.6, and 12.x before 12.2.2. If the caching_sha2_password authentication plugin is installed, and some user accounts are configured to use it, a large packet can crash the server because sha256_crypt_r uses alloca.
- Severity
- medium
- Software
- MariaDB
- Fixed in
- 12.2.2
- Published
- 2026-04-03
Affected versions
From: 12.0.0
Until: 12.2.2
Fixed in: 12.2.2
How to fix this CVE
Update MariaDB Server to version 12.2.2 or later to resolve a denial-of-service vulnerability in the caching_sha2_password authentication plugin. This vulnerability affects instances where the plugin is enabled and user accounts are configured to use it. Apply the security patch immediately to prevent potential server crashes from specially crafted authentication packets.
sudo dnf update mariadb-serverDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Step 1: Check installed MariaDB version by running 'mariadb --version' or 'mysql -u root -p -e "SELECT VERSION();"'
- Step 2: Verify if caching_sha2_password plugin is installed by querying 'SELECT PLUGIN_NAME FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.PLUGINS WHERE PLUGIN_NAME = "caching_sha2_password";'
- Step 3: List user accounts using caching_sha2_password with 'SELECT User, Host, plugin FROM mysql.user WHERE plugin = "caching_sha2_password";'
- Step 4: After updating, confirm the new version with 'mariadb --version' and verify the plugin remains properly configured
FAQ
What is CVE-2026-35549?
This CVE describes a denial-of-service vulnerability in MariaDB's caching_sha2_password authentication plugin where overly large packets trigger unsafe stack allocation, causing the server to crash during authentication attempts.
Is CVE-2026-35549 being actively exploited?
No, this vulnerability is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, and no public exploits are available.
What versions of MariaDB are affected by CVE-2026-35549?
MariaDB 12.0.0 through 12.2.1 are affected. Earlier affected versions include 11.4.x before 11.4.10 and 11.5.x through 11.8.x before 11.8.6.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2026-35549?
Run 'mariadb --version' to check your version. If it is 12.0.0-12.2.1 and the caching_sha2_password plugin is active (verify with INFORMATION_SCHEMA.PLUGINS), your server is vulnerable.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2026-35549?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If MariaDB is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2026-35549 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related MariaDB CVEs
References
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