Netty before 4.2.18.Final QpackEncoder Unbounded Memory Retention

{
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2",
  "cveMetadata": {
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-100660",
    "assignerOrgId": "83251b91-4cc7-4094-a5c7-464a1b83ea10",
    "assignerShortName": "VulnCheck",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-09-26T13:23:27.554Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-09-26T02:33:59.039Z",
    "datePublished": "2026-09-26T13:23:27.554Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "containers": {
    "cna": {
      "providerMetadata": {
        "orgId": "83251b91-4cc7-4094-a5c7-464a1b83ea10",
        "shortName": "VulnCheck",
        "dateUpdated": "2026-09-26T13:23:27.554Z"
      },
      "datePublic": "2026-09-10T00:00:00.000Z",
      "title": "Netty before 4.2.18.Final QpackEncoder Unbounded Memory Retention",
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "Netty's HTTP/3 codec (io.netty:netty-codec-http3) from 4.2.0.Final through 4.2.17.Final retains unbounded per-stream QPACK encoder state. QpackEncoder stores a queue and a dynamic-table index tracker for every encoded field section that references the QPACK dynamic table, keyed by the peer-controlled QUIC stream ID, and these entries are released only when the remote decoder sends a Section Acknowledgment or Stream Cancellation instruction — not when the HTTP/3 stream completes. There is no limit on the number of tracked streams, field sections, or retained bytes. A remote, unauthenticated HTTP/3 client can advertise a non-zero QPACK dynamic-table capacity, acknowledge the table insertion so the server reuses a dynamically indexed response header, and then omit all mandatory Section Acknowledgments while issuing sequential requests over a single QUIC connection, bypassing concurrent-stream limits and causing unbounded heap growth until the server exhausts memory (denial of service). Fixed in 4.2.18.Final."
        }
      ],
      "affected": [
        {
          "vendor": "netty",
          "product": "netty",
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected",
          "versions": [
            {
              "version": "0",
              "status": "affected",
              "versionType": "semver",
              "lessThan": "4.2.18.Final"
            },
            {
              "version": "4.2.18.Final",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "versionType": "semver"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "lang": "en",
              "description": "Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling",
              "cweId": "CWE-770",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "references": [
        {
          "url": "https://github.com/netty/netty/security/advisories/GHSA-495p-pchh-r4mc",
          "name": "GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA-495p-pchh-r4mc)",
          "tags": [
            "vendor-advisory"
          ]
        },
        {
          "url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/netty-before-4.2.18-final-qpackencoder-unbounded-memory-retention",
          "name": "VulnCheck Advisory: Netty before 4.2.18.Final QpackEncoder Unbounded Memory Retention",
          "tags": [
            "third-party-advisory"
          ]
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "format": "CVSS"
        },
        {
          "format": "CVSS",
          "cvssV3_1": {
            "version": "3.1",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
            "attackVector": "NETWORK",
            "attackComplexity": "LOW",
            "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
            "userInteraction": "NONE",
            "scope": "UNCHANGED",
            "confidentialityImpact": "NONE",
            "integrityImpact": "NONE",
            "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
            "baseScore": 7.5,
            "baseSeverity": "HIGH"
          }
        }
      ],
      "credits": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "hussst",
          "type": "reporter"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}