CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-69218NVD status: Deferred

http4s: Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling

CVE-2026-69218 is a high-severity allocation of resources without limits or throttling vulnerability in http4s, 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 http4s versions: < 0.23.35; >= 1.0.0-M1, < 1.0.0-M47. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.63% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 51% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Check which version of http4s 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
Http4shttp4s< 0.23.35; >= 1.0.0-M1, < 1.0.0-M47Not 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
NoneNothing can be modified.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by CNA (github.com).

Official description

Http4s is a Scala interface for HTTP services. Prior to 0.23.35 and 1.0.0-M47, When Ember receives an HTTP/2 HEADERS or PUSH_PROMISE frame without END_HEADERS, H2Connection buffers the header block and subsequent CONTINUATION fragments without a size bound. A remote peer can keep an incomplete block open and exhaust heap memory before request decoding, affecting an ember-server or ember-client configured with withHttp2. The remediation tracks accumulated size against SETTINGS_MAX_HEADER_LIST_SIZE derived from EmberServerBuilder.maxHeaderSize or EmberClientBuilder.maxResponseHeaderSize, sends GOAWAY when the limit is exceeded, and applies receiveHeadersTimeout to incomplete blocks. This issue is fixed in versions 0.23.35 and 1.0.0-M47.

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

  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

Other vulnerabilities in http4s

All http4s vulnerabilities

Recent Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling vulnerabilities

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