CVE-2023-38039: curl: HTTP headers eat all memory
First published: Wed Sep 13 2023(Updated: )
Curl does not have a limit on the size or quantity of headers it would accept in a response, allowing a malicious server to stream an endless series of headers to a client and eventually cause curl to run out of heap memory.
Credit: support@hackerone.com CVE-2023-38545 CVE-2023-38039 CVE-2023-38546 CVE-2023-42915 support@hackerone.com support@hackerone.com CVE-2023-38545 CVE-2023-38039 CVE-2023-38546 CVE-2023-38545 CVE-2023-38039 CVE-2023-38546 CVE-2023-38545 CVE-2023-38039 CVE-2023-38546
| Affected Software | Affected Version | How to fix |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Windows 11 | =21H2 | |
| Microsoft Windows 11 | =22H2 | |
| Microsoft Windows 11 | =21H2 | |
| Microsoft Windows Server 2019 | ||
| Microsoft Windows 11 | =22H2 | |
| Microsoft Windows 11 | =23H2 | |
| Microsoft CBL Mariner 2.0 x64 | ||
| Microsoft Windows 11 | =23H2 | |
| Microsoft Windows Server 2019 | ||
| Microsoft CBL Mariner 2.0 ARM | ||
| Haxx Curl | >=7.84.0<8.3.0 | |
| Fedoraproject Fedora | =38 | |
| Microsoft Windows Server 2022 | ||
| Microsoft Windows Server 2022 | ||
| Microsoft Windows 10 | =21H2 | |
| Microsoft Windows 10 | =22H2 | |
| Microsoft Windows 10 | =21H2 | |
| Microsoft Windows 10 | =21H2 | |
| Microsoft Windows 10 | =22H2 | |
| Microsoft Windows 10 | =1809 | |
| Microsoft Windows 10 | =22H2 | |
| Microsoft Windows 10 | =1809 | |
| Microsoft Windows 10 | =1809 | |
| Microsoft Windows Server 2019 | ||
| Microsoft Windows Server 2019 | ||
| Microsoft Windows 11 | =22H2 | |
| Microsoft Windows 11 | =21H2 | |
| Microsoft Windows 11 | =22H2 | |
| Microsoft Windows 10 | =21H2 | |
| Microsoft Windows Server 2022 | ||
| Microsoft Windows 10 | =21H2 | |
| Microsoft Windows 10 | =22H2 | |
| Microsoft Windows 10 | =1809 | |
| Microsoft Windows 10 | =1809 | |
| Microsoft Windows 10 | =22H2 | |
| Microsoft Windows 10 | =21H2 | |
| Microsoft Windows 11 | =21H2 | |
| Microsoft Windows 10 | =22H2 | |
| Microsoft Windows 10 | =1809 | |
| Microsoft Windows 11 | =23H2 | |
| Microsoft Windows Server 2022 | ||
| Microsoft Windows 11 | =23H2 | |
| redhat/libcurl | <8.3.0 | 8.3.0 |
| Apple iOS | <16.7.5 | 16.7.5 |
| Apple iPadOS | <16.7.5 | 16.7.5 |
| Apple macOS Ventura | <13.6.4 | 13.6.4 |
| Apple macOS Monterey | <12.7.3 | 12.7.3 |
| Fedoraproject Fedora | =37 | |
| Fedoraproject Fedora | =39 | |
| Microsoft Windows 10 1809 | <10.0.17763.5122 | |
| Microsoft Windows 10 21h2 | <10.0.19044.3693 | |
| Microsoft Windows 10 22h2 | <10.0.19045.3693 | |
| Microsoft Windows 11 21h2 | <10.0.22000.2600 | |
| Microsoft Windows 11 22h2 | <10.0.22621.2715 | |
| Microsoft Windows 11 23h2 | <10.0.22631.2715 | |
| Microsoft Windows Server 2019 | <10.0.17763.5122 | |
| Microsoft Windows Server 2022 | <10.0.20348.2113 | |
| ubuntu/curl | <7.88.1-8ubuntu2.2 | 7.88.1-8ubuntu2.2 |
| ubuntu/curl | <8.2.1-1ubuntu3 | 8.2.1-1ubuntu3 |
| ubuntu/curl | <8.2.1-1ubuntu3 | 8.2.1-1ubuntu3 |
| debian/curl | 7.64.0-4+deb10u2 7.64.0-4+deb10u9 7.74.0-1.3+deb11u11 7.88.1-10+deb12u5 8.7.1-5 | |
| Apple macOS Sonoma | <14.2 | 14.2 |
| IBM QRadar WinCollect Agent | <=10.0-10.1.7 |
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Reference Links
- https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2023-38039 (Advisory)
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2023/Oct/17
- https://hackerone.com/reports/2072338
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/5DCZMYODALBLVOXVJEN2LF2MLANEYL4F/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/M6KGKB2JNZVT276JYSKI6FV2VFJUGDOJ/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/TEAWTYHC3RT6ZRS5OZRHLAIENVN6CCIS/
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202310-12
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20231013-0005/
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi/show_bug.cgi?id=2239136
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7625
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7626
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2239135
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT214036
- https://www.insyde.com/security-pledge/SA-2023064
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT214063
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT214057
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT214058
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Jan/34
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Jan/37
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Jan/38
- https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2023-38039
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT214063 (Advisory)
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT214058 (Advisory)
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT214057 (Advisory)
- https://curl.se/docs/CVE-2023-38039.html
- https://ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6363-1
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-38039
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-38039
- https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2023-38039
- https://github.com/curl/curl/commit/3ee79c1674fd6f9
- https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2023-38039
- https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/09/13/1
- https://github.com/curl/curl/commit/7c8c723682d524ac9580b9ca3b71419163cb5660
- https://github.com/curl/curl/commit/4d94fac9f0d1dd02b8308291e4c47651142dc28b
- https://github.com/curl/curl/commit/3ee79c1674fd6f99e8efca52cd7510e08b766770
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT214036 (Advisory)
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/265946
- https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7081403 (Advisory)
Parent vulnerabilities
(Appears in the following advisories)
Peer vulnerabilities
(Found alongside the following vulnerabilities)
- CVE-2023-42937
- CVE-2024-23212
- CVE-2023-38545
- CVE-2023-38039
- CVE-2023-38546
- CVE-2023-42915
- CVE-2023-42888
- CVE-2024-23211
- CVE-2024-23213
- CVE-2024-23214
- CVE-2024-23206
- CVE-2024-23222
- CVE-2023-40528
- CVE-2024-23224
- CVE-2023-42935
- CVE-2024-23207
- CVE-2023-42887
- CVE-2024-27791
- CVE-2023-42874
- CVE-2023-42919
- CVE-2023-42894
- CVE-2023-42901
- CVE-2023-42902
- CVE-2023-42912
- CVE-2023-42903
- CVE-2023-42904
- CVE-2023-42905
- CVE-2023-42906
- CVE-2023-42907
- CVE-2023-42908
- CVE-2023-42909
- CVE-2023-42910
- CVE-2023-42911
- CVE-2023-42926
- CVE-2023-42882
- CVE-2023-42881
- CVE-2023-42924
- CVE-2023-42896
- CVE-2023-42884
- CVE-2023-45866
- CVE-2023-42900
- CVE-2023-42886
- CVE-2023-42931
- CVE-2023-42892
- CVE-2023-42922
- CVE-2023-42898
- CVE-2023-42899
- CVE-2023-42891
- CVE-2023-42974
- CVE-2023-42914
- CVE-2023-42893
- CVE-2023-3618
- CVE-2020-19185
- CVE-2020-19186
- CVE-2020-19187
- CVE-2020-19188
- CVE-2020-19189
- CVE-2020-19190
- CVE-2023-42936
- CVE-2023-40390
- CVE-2023-42842
- CVE-2023-42930
- CVE-2023-42913
- CVE-2023-42932
- CVE-2023-42947
- CVE-2023-40389
- CVE-2023-5344
- CVE-2023-42890
- CVE-2023-42883
- CVE-2023-42950
- CVE-2023-42956
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2023-38039?
CVE-2023-38039 is a vulnerability in the curl library where HTTP headers can consume all memory.
How does CVE-2023-38039 affect curl?
CVE-2023-38039 affects curl by allowing a malicious server to send an endless series of headers, consuming all available memory.
What is the severity of CVE-2023-38039?
CVE-2023-38039 has a severity rating of high (7.5).
How can I fix CVE-2023-38039 on Ubuntu?
To fix CVE-2023-38039 on Ubuntu, update the 'curl' package to version 7.88.1-8ubuntu2.2 or later.
How can I fix CVE-2023-38039 on Debian?
To fix CVE-2023-38039 on Debian, update the 'curl' package to version 7.88.1-10 or later.
- collector/oss-sec
- alias/CVE-2023-38039
- collector/msrc
- collector/nvd-index
- agent/type
- agent/first-publish-date
- source/Microsoft
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- alias/CVE-2023-38546
- alias/CVE-2023-42915
- agent/software-canonical-lookup-request
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- source/NVD
- collector/nvd-cve
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- source/Ubuntu
- agent/event
- collector/security-tracker-debian
- source/Debian
- agent/softwarecombine
- agent/last-modified-date
- agent/tags
- collector/ibm-support
- source/IBM
- vendor/microsoft
- canonical/microsoft windows 11
- version/microsoft windows 11/21h2
- version/microsoft windows 11/22h2
- canonical/microsoft windows server 2019
- version/microsoft windows 11/23h2
- canonical/microsoft cbl mariner 2.0 x64
- canonical/microsoft cbl mariner 2.0 arm
- vendor/haxx
- canonical/haxx curl
- version/haxx curl/7.84.0
- vendor/fedoraproject
- canonical/fedoraproject fedora
- version/fedoraproject fedora/38
- canonical/microsoft windows server 2022
- canonical/microsoft windows 10
- version/microsoft windows 10/21h2
- version/microsoft windows 10/22h2
- version/microsoft windows 10/1809
- package-manager/redhat
- vendor/apple
- canonical/apple ios
- canonical/apple ipados
- canonical/apple macos ventura
- canonical/apple macos monterey
- version/fedoraproject fedora/37
- version/fedoraproject fedora/39
- canonical/microsoft windows 10 1809
- canonical/microsoft windows 10 21h2
- canonical/microsoft windows 10 22h2
- canonical/microsoft windows 11 21h2
- canonical/microsoft windows 11 22h2
- canonical/microsoft windows 11 23h2
- package-manager/ubuntu
- package-manager/debian
- canonical/apple macos sonoma
- vendor/ibm
- canonical/ibm qradar wincollect agent
- version/ibm qradar wincollect agent/10.0-10.1.7