CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-48979NVD status: Awaiting Analysis

php-standard-library: Inconsistent Interpretation of HTTP Requests

CVE-2026-48979 is a high-severity inconsistent interpretation of HTTP requests vulnerability in php-standard-library, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected php-standard-library versions: >= 6.1.0, < 6.1.2; >= 6.2.0, < 6.2.1. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.27% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Check which version of php-standard-library you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  3. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Php-standard-libraryphp-standard-library>= 6.1.0, < 6.1.2; >= 6.2.0, < 6.2.1Not stated
Php-standard-libraryphp-standard-library/h2>= 6.1.0, < 6.1.2; >= 6.2.0, < 6.2.1Not stated

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
NoneNo data is disclosed.
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:N/I:H/A:N. Scored by CNA (github.com).

Official description

PHP Standard Library (PSL) is set of APIs covering async, collections, networking, I/O, cryptography, terminal UI, etc. In versions 6.1.0, 6.1.1 and 6.2.0, the Psl\H2\ServerConnection does not validate that the total bytes received in DATA frames match the content-length header declared in the HEADERS frame, allowing request smuggling. This is in violation of RFC 9113 §8.1.1. A malicious client is able to send more DATA bytes than declared, smuggling additional content past application-level size limits and send fewer DATA bytes than declared and close the stream early, causing applications that trust the declared length to behave incorrectly. The vulnerability is only reachable for consumers using Psl\H2\ServerConnection directly to accept untrusted client traffic. Consumers of documented high-level PSL APIs are not affected. This issue has been fixed in versions 6.1.2 and 6.2.1.

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

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Recent Inconsistent Interpretation of HTTP Requests vulnerabilities

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