CVE-2026-88772
Citrix NetScaler ADC / Gateway · Load balancers and access gateways (ADC)
Citrix NetScaler Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer Vulnerability
At a glance
Exploited. Added to CISA’s catalog of exploited vulnerabilities on September 27, 2026.
CISA asks you to hunt for signs of compromise: patching is not enough if the device has already been breached.
Affected product: Citrix NetScaler ADC / Gateway (category Load balancers and access gateways (ADC), indicative classification). Name in CISA’s catalog: Citrix NetScaler.
What should I do?
Apply the patches or mitigations from Citrix; if none are available, stop using the product. Start with internet-facing devices.
CISA also asks you to hunt for signs of compromise: patching is not enough if the device has already been breached.
Deadline set by CISA for US federal agencies: 3 days (due September 30, 2026). It only binds those agencies, but it is a useful measure of urgency.
- Citrix security advisories page (general page, not the advisory for this vulnerability)
- The vendor’s specific advisory is listed in the NVD references: CVE-2026-88772 on the NVD website.
Original text of the required action (CISA)
Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA's BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA's "Forensics Triage Requirements" (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines.
Timeline
- Vulnerability published Publication date (NVD)
- Exploitation confirmed Added to CISA’s KEV catalog
- CISA deadline Remediation deadline set for US federal agencies
The facts, with their sources
- Exploitation confirmed
- Yes, on September 27, 2026 Date added to the catalog of exploited vulnerabilities. Exploitation itself may have started earlier. Source: KEV catalog, collected September 29, 2026 at 14:57 UTC
- Ransomware
- No known use to date That does not guarantee it is not being used: the information is not public. Source: KEV catalog, collected September 29, 2026 at 14:57 UTC
- Hunt for compromise
- Requested by CISA Source: KEV catalog, collected September 29, 2026 at 14:57 UTC
- CISA required action
- Apply the patches or mitigations from Citrix; if none are available, stop using the product. Start with internet-facing devices. Rewritten by this site from CISA’s original text. Source: KEV catalog, collected September 29, 2026 at 14:57 UTC
- CISA deadline
- September 30, 2026, 3 days Set for US federal agencies: a measure of urgency, not an obligation elsewhere. Source: KEV catalog, collected September 29, 2026 at 14:57 UTC
- Vulnerability published
- September 27, 2026 Source: National Vulnerability Database (NVD), collected September 29, 2026 at 15:00 UTC
- Product according to CISA
- Citrix NetScaler Filed by this site under “Load balancers and access gateways (ADC)” (indicative classification). Source: KEV catalog, collected September 29, 2026 at 14:57 UTC
- CVSS vector
- CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Technical detail of the score: attack vector, complexity, impact. Source: National Vulnerability Database (NVD), collected September 29, 2026 at 15:00 UTC
Severity and activity
FIRST’s EPSS model. Since exploitation is already confirmed, this figure is mostly useful to compare activity. Collected Sep 29, 2026.
Description
Vulnerability in Citrix NetScaler ADC and Citrix NetScaler Gateway. This issue affects ADC: before 14.1-73.37, before 13.1-64.23, before 14.1-73.37 FIPS, and before 13.1.37.279 FIPS and NDcPP; Gateway: before 14.1-73.37 and before 13.1-64.23 leading to Remote Code Execution or Denial of Service
Official description from the NVD, collected Sep 29, 2026. CVE® description © The MITRE Corporation.
Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway contain an improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer vulnerability that could allow for remote code execution or denial of service
Summary from CISA (KEV catalog).
CERT-FR advisories
- CERTFR-2026-ALE-011: Multiples vulnérabilités dans Citrix NetScaler ADC et Gateway Active alert (updated September 28, 2026)
- CERTFR-2026-AVI-1235: Multiples vulnérabilités dans Citrix NetScaler ADC et Gateway (updated September 28, 2026)
Information reused under the Open Licence 2.0 (Etalab); the date of last update is shown for each advisory. This site is neither affiliated with nor endorsed by ANSSI.
Sources for this page
- CISA KEV catalog: exploitation, date added, required action, deadline, ransomware.
- NVD (NIST): CVSS severity, publication date, description, vendor references.
- EPSS (FIRST): probability of exploitation.
- CERT-FR: advisories and alerts (in French).
- Brand and category: indicative classification by this site (method).