CVE-2026-42536
HIGH 7.5Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability in Apache HTTP Server with mod_xml2enc, xml2StartParse, and untrusted content This issue affects Apache HTTP Server: from 2.4.0 through 2.4.67. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 2.4.68, which fixes the issue.
Severe if exploited (CVSS 7.5), but no known exploitation and low modeled probability. Patch on a normal cadence.
Exploitation likelihood
0.8%chance of exploitation in 30 days · 53rd percentile
Impact if exploited
7.5CVSS 3.1 · HIGH
- ConfidentialityNone
- IntegrityNone
- AvailabilityHigh
What an attacker needs
- ✓Access: Reachable over the network — no local access needed
- ✓Privileges: No account or privileges required
- ✓User interaction: No user interaction needed
- ✓Complexity: No special conditions — reliably repeatable
✓ lowers the bar for an attacker · ⚠ raises it
Proof of concept & exploit code
- github-search Search GitHub for public PoC repos
Test against your own equipment
curl -s https://vulnpedia.com/cve/CVE-2026-42536/poc.jsonMachine-readable PoC index for this CVE (for automation).Listed for defensive triage, patch verification, and authorized testing on systems you own. Machine-readable: /cve/CVE-2026-42536/poc.json
Affected
Vendors Apache Software Foundation Red Hat Apache
Products Apache Http Server Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 Red Hat Hardened Images Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Http Server
Weakness (CWE)
- CWE-122: Heap-based Buffer Overflow
- CWE-120: Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Known Affected Software Configurations
| Vendor | Product | Version range |
|---|---|---|
| Apache | Http Server | ≥ 2.4.0 and < 2.4.68 |
All CVSS metrics
- HIGH 7.5 v3.1 · ADP Primary
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - HIGH 7.5 v3.1 · NVD Secondary
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H