@fastify/express: Interpretation Conflict
CVE-2026-33808 is a critical-severity interpretation conflict vulnerability in @fastify/express from Fastify, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 4.0.5 as the first without the flaw, so updating @fastify/express to that release 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.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Update @fastify/express to 4.0.5 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on cna.openjsf.org 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fastify | @fastify/express | before 4.0.5 | 4.0.5 |
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
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 9.1 | Critical | CNA |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.1 | Critical | NVD |
Official description
Impact@fastify/express v4.0.4 and earlier fails to normalize URLs before passing them to Express middleware when Fastify router normalization options are enabled. This allows complete bypass of path-scoped authentication middleware via duplicate slashes when ignoreDuplicateSlashes is enabled, or via semicolon delimiters when useSemicolonDelimiter is enabled. In both cases, Fastify router normalizes the URL and matches the route, but @fastify/express passes the original un-normalized URL to Express middleware, which fails to match and is skipped. An unauthenticated attacker can access protected routes by manipulating the URL path. PatchesUpgrade to @fastify/express v4.0.5 or later.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Interpretation Conflict
Product A handles inputs or steps differently than Product B, which causes A to perform incorrect actions based on its perception of B's state.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Other vulnerabilities in @fastify/express
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 8.4 High severity
Recent Interpretation Conflict vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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