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CVE-2023-38039

Published: Sep 15, 2023Updated: Dec 2, 2025 Sources: CVE List NVD BDU csafCWE-770

Description

When curl retrieves an HTTP response, it stores the incoming headers so that they can be accessed later via the libcurl headers API. However, curl did not have a limit in how many or how large headers it would accept in a response, allowing a malicious server to stream an endless series of headers and eventually cause curl to run out of heap memory.

CVSS Vector Breakdown

AV:NAC:LPR:NUI:NS:UC:NI:NA:H
Exploitability
AV:NAttack Vector
Network
AC:LAttack Complexity
Low
PR:NPrivileges Required
None
UI:NUser Interaction
None
Scope
S:UScope
Unchanged
Impact
C:NConfidentiality
None
I:NIntegrity
None
A:HAvailability
High

Weaknesses

Affected Products

curloss-projectUSOSS Librariesaka libcurl, wcurl
haxxoss-projectSEOSS Librariesaka haxx.se
fedoraprojectoss-projectUSOperating Systemsaka fedora project
and 16 more affected products View all →

Attack Graph

Products CVE Techniques Tactics

Click technique nodes to view MITRE ATT&CK details. Scroll to zoom, drag to pan.

Exploitability

1 exploit source identified

Exploit details including PoC links, Metasploit modules, and scanner templates are available after registration.

View exploit details
Official Patch Available

MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique
Impact
View detailed technique mapping

References

and 33 more references View all →

Timeline

Published
Sep 15, 2023
Last Updated
Dec 2, 2025

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