Apache bRPC: Uncontrolled Recursion
CVE-2026-82230 is a high-severity uncontrolled recursion vulnerability in Apache bRPC from Apache, 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 version 1.18.0 as the first without the flaw, so updating Apache bRPC to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.55% 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 Apache bRPC to 1.18.0 or a later version.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apache | Apache bRPC | before 1.18.0 | 1.18.0 |
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 CISA (ADP).
Official description
Uncontrolled recursion in the mcpack2pb component in Apache bRPC (version < 1.18.0) on all platforms allows remote attackers to make the server crash via sending deeply nested mcpack data. Root Cause: The bRPC mcpack2pb parser (used to serve nshead_mcpack / ubrpc / public_pbrpc requests) recursively parses nested objects and arrays without any depth limit. For a protobuf message that references itself (e.g. a repeated message field), the generated parser recurses once per nesting level of the incoming mcpack object. A deeply nested request makes the recursion grow unbounded, overflow the stack and crash the process. Affected Scenarios: Use bRPC server with a recursive-schema protobuf message to serve nshead_mcpack / ubrpc / public_pbrpc requests from untrusted network. How to Fix: (Choose one of the following options) 1. Upgrade bRPC to version 1.18.0, which fixes this issue. 2. Apply this patch: https://github.com/apache/brpc/pull/3499 Note: No matter which option you choose, you should know that the fix enforces the documented parsing depth limit MAX_DEPTH (128) on the parse path, the same limit the serializer already applies. If your requests contain mcpack messages nested deeper than 128 levels, the request will be failed after applying the fix.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Uncontrolled Recursion
The product does not properly control the amount of recursion that takes place, consuming excessive resources, such as allocated memory or the program stack.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Ensure that an end condition will be reached under all logic conditions. The end condition may include checking against the depth of recursion and exiting with an error if the recursion goes too deep. The complexity of the end condition contributes to the effectiveness of this action.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in Apache bRPC
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Uncontrolled Recursion vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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