CVE-2026-123868: Node.js is vulnerable to an HTTP/2 memory exhaustion denial of service via unaccounted inbound DATA on an undrained stream

Published Nov 11, 2026
·
Updated

An unauthenticated HTTP/2 client can exhaust Node.js server memory because inbound DATA queued on an undrained stream is charged to no session budget. Each inbound DATA frame creates one JavaScript Buffer view in the receiving stream's readable queue, but nothing charges that queue to currentsessionmemory: the socket read buffer is accounted only during parsing and released immediately, so whatever stays queued is accounted to nothing. A peer that fills a stream's receive window with one-byte DATA frames pays about 10 wire bytes per frame while the server retains about 114 bytes per frame, so a single stream on one connection can retain hundreds of megabytes from tens of megabytes sent. maxSessionMemory neither bounds the growth nor refuses new streams, because Http2Session::CanAddStream gates admission on the same counter that never sees the queue. This vulnerability affects Node.js 26.x and 24.x.

Affected Software

3 affected componentsFixes available
Node.js Node.js>=22.0.0<22.23.5
22.23.5
Node.js Node.js>=26.0.0<26.13.1
26.13.1
Node.js Node.js>=24.0.0<24.22.3
24.22.3

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 22.23.5
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 26.13.1
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 24.22.3

Event History

Nov 11, 2026
CVE Published
via Node.js·04:44 PM
Data Sourced
via Node.js·04:44 PM
SeverityAffected Software
CVE Published
via MITRE·06:25 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·06:25 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·07:17 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

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