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CVE-2026-96618

LOW 2.1

Published 2026-10-12 · Last modified 2026-10-16

Improper Handling of Highly Compressed Data (Data Amplification) vulnerability in hexpm hex allows an untrusted package mirror to exhaust the memory or disk space of the machine running mix deps.get, mix deps.update, mix hex.package fetch or mix hex.docs fetch. Hex treats a mirror configured with HEX_MIRROR_URL, HEX_MIRROR or mirror_url as untrusted: it doesn't send credentials to it, and it checks registry signatures and package checksums that the mirror can't forge. Several response paths consume memory or disk in proportion to what the mirror sends before any of those checks run. Hex.HTTP.request/5 reads the whole response body into memory and decompresses it with :zlib.gunzip/1 whenever the response's Content-Encoding contains gzip, with no limit on the compressed or decompressed size. Hex doesn't ask for compressed responses, so the server decides whether this step runs. It applies to registry, package, docs and API responses. Package tarballs have no download size limit. Hex 2.5.1 holds the whole tarball in memory and writes it to the cache, and the development branch streams it to a temporary file; the 16 MiB tarball limit is checked only when the file is unpacked. The tarball is then unpacked, into deps/<app> in 2.5.1 and into a staging directory on the development branch, before its checksums are compared with the registry. mix hex.docs fetch, and mix hex.docs offline when docs are missing, write the docs tarball to disk and extract it with :mix_hex_erl_tar.extract/2 without the 16 MiB compressed and 128 MiB decompressed limits that mix_hex_tarball:unpack_docs/3 applies. The signed registry doesn't cover docs tarballs, so nothing checks them. Registry responses are also decompressed before their signature is checked, in hex_core code that Hex vendors; that part is tracked in https://github.com/hexpm/hex_core/security/advisories/GHSA-7c4r-cgf9-9jmq. This issue affects hex: from 0.11.2 before 2.5.2.

NO EXPLOITATION SIGNALS

No known exploitation, public exploit, or elevated probability at this time. Track for changes.

Exploitation likelihood

0.4%chance of exploitation in 30 days · 29th percentile

○ In CISA KEV ○ Catalogued PoC

Impact if exploited

2.1CVSS 4.0 · LOW

  • ConfidentialityNone
  • IntegrityNone
  • AvailabilityLow

What an attacker needs

  • ✓Access: Reachable over the network — no local access needed
  • ✓Privileges: No account or privileges required
  • ⚠User interaction: Requires active user interaction
  • ✓Complexity: No special conditions — reliably repeatable
  • ⚠Requirements: Specific conditions must be present

✓ lowers the bar for an attacker · ⚠ raises it

Proof of concept

No public PoC is currently catalogued.

Search for new PoCs

Search GitHub now — results may be empty or unverified.

Tracked sources are checked daily for recent CVEs, including PoCs published after the original disclosure. A later release appears after a tracked source lists it and a refresh succeeds.

Data snapshot:

Affected

Vendors Hexpm

Products Hex

Weakness (CWE)

  • CWE-409: Improper Handling of Highly Compressed Data (Data Amplification)
  • CWE-770: Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling

CVSS vector

CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

References and research data (JSON)

Vendor product assessments

Showing 32 of 328 vendor product statements; 296 omitted. Read the full vendor advisory.

  • ansible-automation-platform/automation-orchestrator-backend-rhel9 as a component of Ansible Automation Orchestrator 2026 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:oci/automation-orchestrator-backend-rhel9?repository_url=registry.redhat.io/ansible-automation-platform/automation-orchestrator-backend-rhel9

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • openshift-logging/vector-rhel9 as a component of Logging Subsystem for Red Hat OpenShift · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:oci/vector-rhel9?repository_url=registry.redhat.io/openshift-logging/vector-rhel9

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • ansible-automation-platform-26/ee-minimal-rhel9 as a component of Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:oci/ee-minimal-rhel9?repository_url=registry.redhat.io/ansible-automation-platform-26/ee-minimal-rhel9

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • ansible-automation-platform-27/ee-supported-rhel9 as a component of Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:oci/ee-supported-rhel9?repository_url=registry.redhat.io/ansible-automation-platform-27/ee-supported-rhel9

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • ansible-automation-platform-tech-preview/ee-minimal-rhel9 as a component of Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform Ansible Core 2 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:oci/ee-minimal-rhel9?repository_url=registry.redhat.io/ansible-automation-platform-tech-preview/ee-minimal-rhel9

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • clippy as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/clippy

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • keylime-agent-rust-common as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/keylime-agent-rust-common

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • libwayland-client as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/libwayland-client

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • nmstate-static as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/nmstate-static

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • python3-samba-dc as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/python3-samba-dc

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • rust-doc as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/rust-doc

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • rust.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/rust?arch=src

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • samba-gpupdate as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/samba-gpupdate

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • samba-winbind as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/samba-winbind

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • system-reinstall-bootc as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/system-reinstall-bootc

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • cargo-doc (rust-toolset:rhel8) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/cargo-doc?rpmmod=rust-toolset:rhel8

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • rpm-ostree.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/rpm-ostree?arch=src

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • rust-std-static (rust-toolset:rhel8) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/rust-std-static?rpmmod=rust-toolset:rhel8

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • bootupd as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/bootupd

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • fdo-init as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/fdo-init

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • keylime-agent-rust.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/keylime-agent-rust?arch=src

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • nmstate-devel as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/nmstate-devel

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • python3-samba-test as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/python3-samba-test

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • rust-gdb as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/rust-gdb

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • samba as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/samba

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • samba-ldb-ldap-modules as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/samba-ldb-ldap-modules

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • samba-winbind-krb5-locator as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/samba-winbind-krb5-locator

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • rhel-cla/rhel-knowledge-bridge-rhel10 as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux command line assistant · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:oci/rhel-knowledge-bridge-rhel10?repository_url=registry.redhat.io/rhel-cla/rhel-knowledge-bridge-rhel10

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • rhoai/odh-ml-pipelines-runtime-generic-rhel9 as a component of Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI) · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:oci/odh-ml-pipelines-runtime-generic-rhel9?repository_url=registry.redhat.io/rhoai/odh-ml-pipelines-runtime-generic-rhel9

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • kata-containers as a component of Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/kata-containers

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • rabbitmq-server.src as a component of Red Hat OpenStack Platform 16.2 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/rabbitmq-server?arch=src

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00
  • rhtpa/rhtpa-trustification-service-rhel9 as a component of Red Hat Trusted Profile Analyzer · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:oci/rhtpa-trustification-service-rhel9?repository_url=registry.redhat.io/rhtpa/rhtpa-trustification-service-rhel9

    • none available: Fix deferred
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-96618 · Updated 2026-10-19T19:01:18+00:00

All CVSS metrics

  • LOW 2.1 v4.0 · CNA Primary
    CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
  • LOW 2.1 v4.0 · NVD Secondary
    CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X

References

Patches & mitigations

Advisories

Technical & other

Sources: NVD · CVE.org · EPSS