CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-80255NVD status: Modified

curl: Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Sent Data

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2026-80255 is a high-severity insertion of sensitive information into sent data vulnerability in curl, 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. The record lists versions 8.14.2, 8.16.1, 8.20.1 as the first without the flaw, so updating curl to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.48% 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. Update curl to 8.14.2 or 8.16.1 or 8.20.1 or 8.22.0, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Read the advisory on curl.se 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
Curlcurl8.13.0 up to, but not including, 8.14.2; 8.15.0 up to, but not including, 8.16.1; 8.17.0 up to, but not including, 8.20.1; 8.21.0 up to, but not including, 8.22.0; 1aea05a6c2699e80c75936d58569851555acd603 up to, but not including, 4f6aa41a0145e930e766775dbe860883d350aa0a; 8.21.0; 8.20.0; 8.19.0; and 7 more ranges8.14.2, 8.16.1, 8.20.1, 8.22.0, 4f6aa41a0145e930e766775dbe860883d350aa0a

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
NoneNothing can be modified.
Availability
NoneAvailability is not affected.

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

Official description

A `Set-Cookie:` header using tab (horizontal tab, ASCII code 9) instead of space (ascii code 32) immediately before the `Secure` attribute causes curl to store the cookie without its Secure flag. The cookie might then wrongfully be sent over plaintext HTTP on subsequent requests to the same host.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Sent Data

The code transmits data to another actor, but a portion of the data includes sensitive information that should not be accessible to that actor.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Specify which data in the software should be regarded as sensitive. Consider which types of users should have access to which types of data.
  • Ensure that any possibly sensitive data specified in the requirements is verified with designers to ensure that it is either a calculated risk or mitigated elsewhere. Any information that is not necessary to the functionality should be removed in order to lower both the overhead and the possibility of security sensitive data being sent.
  • Setup default error messages so that unexpected errors do not disclose sensitive information.

More Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Sent Data vulnerabilities (CWE-201)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Patches and release notes

Other vulnerabilities in curl

All curl vulnerabilities

Recent Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Sent Data vulnerabilities

Spotted an error? Tell us.