grpc_server: Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling
CVE-2026-124279 is a high-severity allocation of resources without limits or throttling vulnerability in grpc_server from Elixir-grpc, with a CVSS 4.0 base score of 8.2 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 1.1.0, b1e771d558941b1ed4b6de8b39f6a5375543db01 as the first without the flaw, so updating grpc_server to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.49% 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 grpc_server to 1.1.0 or b1e771d558941b1ed4b6de8b39f6a5375543db01, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elixir-grpc | grpc_server | 1.0.0 up to, but not including, 1.1.0; 49e18c3ec6bb9afe2f712caad3dbab5c56a68a00 up to, but not including, b1e771d558941b1ed4b6de8b39f6a5375543db01 | 1.1.0, b1e771d558941b1ed4b6de8b39f6a5375543db01 |
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.
- Attack requirements
- PresentThe target must be in a specific state or configuration for the attack to work.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Confidentiality (vulnerable system)
- NoneNo loss of confidentiality on the vulnerable system.
- Integrity (vulnerable system)
- NoneNo loss of integrity on the vulnerable system.
- Availability (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of availability on the vulnerable system.
- Confidentiality (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of confidentiality on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
- Integrity (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of integrity on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
- Availability (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of availability on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/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. Scored by CNA.
Official description
Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling vulnerability in elixir-grpc grpc_server allows unauthenticated attackers to exhaust server memory via client-streaming or bidirectional-streaming requests. The streaming read clause of GRPC.Server.Adapters.Cowboy.Handler.info/3 (grpc_server/lib/grpc/server/adapters/cowboy/handler.ex) asks Cowboy for up to 8,000,000 bytes per read and compares the running total with max_body_size only after the read returns. The gRPC length prefix of a message is not checked before the message is buffered. Each stream can therefore buffer up to one full read beyond the configured limit before it is refused, and many concurrent streams exhaust node memory. Releases before 1.0.6 apply no limit to streaming requests at all. This issue affects grpc_server: from 1.0.0 before 1.1.0.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling
The product allocates a reusable resource or group of resources on behalf of an actor without imposing any intended restrictions on the size or number of resources that can be allocated.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Clearly specify the minimum and maximum expectations for capabilities, and dictate which behaviors are acceptable when resource allocation reaches limits.
- Limit the amount of resources that are accessible to unprivileged users. Set per-user limits for resources. Allow the system administrator to define these limits. Be careful to avoid CWE-410.
- For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
More Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling vulnerabilities (CWE-770)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
References
Patches and release notes
Other vulnerabilities in grpc_server
- 8.2 High severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
Recent Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling vulnerabilities
- 8.3 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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