netty: Inconsistent Interpretation of HTTP Requests
CVE-2026-100666 is a high-severity inconsistent interpretation of HTTP requests vulnerability in netty, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.3 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 4.2.17.Final, 4.1.137.Final as the first without the flaw, so updating netty to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.29% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update netty to 4.2.17.Final or 4.1.137.Final, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netty | netty | 4.2.0.Final up to, but not including, 4.2.17.Final; before 4.1.137.Final | 4.2.17.Final, 4.1.137.Final |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- LowSome restricted data can be read.
- Integrity
- LowLimited modification of data is possible.
- Availability
- LowPerformance or availability is reduced.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L. Scored by CNA (vulncheck.com).
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 6.9 | Medium | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.3 | High | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
Official description
Netty's HttpServerCodec (io.netty:netty-codec-http) in versions 4.2.0.Final through 4.2.16.Final and in versions up to and including 4.1.136.Final pairs each outbound response with an inbound request by calling pollMethod() once per response, including for 1xx informational responses. If a client pipelines an HTTP/1.1 GET carrying an Expect: 100-continue header followed by a HEAD request, the 100 Continue response consumes the queued GET method, so the subsequent 200 OK for the GET is paired with HEAD and its body is dropped, while the following 200 OK for the HEAD request is written with a body. This desynchronizes HTTP parsing on the connection: the GET entity is never delivered and the HEAD response body is interpreted as the GET body, resulting in response splitting and unsafe connection reuse. Fixed in 4.2.17.Final and 4.1.137.Final.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Inconsistent Interpretation of HTTP Requests
The product acts as an intermediary HTTP agent (such as a proxy or firewall) in the data flow between two entities such as a client and server, but it does not interpret malformed HTTP requests or responses in ways that are consistent with how the messages will be processed by those entities that are at the ultimate destination.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use a web server that employs a strict HTTP parsing procedure, such as Apache.
- Terminate the client session after each request.
More Inconsistent Interpretation of HTTP Requests vulnerabilities (CWE-444)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in netty
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Inconsistent Interpretation of HTTP Requests vulnerabilities
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.7 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
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