libhttp/url.c in shellinabox through 2.20 has an implementation flaw in the HTTP request…
Priority MEDIUM 42CWE-835Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-835.
Summary
libhttp/url.c in shellinabox through 2.20 has an implementation flaw in the HTTP request parsing logic. By sending a crafted multipart/form-data HTTP request, an attacker could exploit this to force shellinaboxd into an infinite loop, exhausting available CPU resources and taking the service down.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.05986 93rd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 2 exploit referencesTagged by NVD
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:shellinabox_project:shellinabox:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 2.20 | Vulnerable | Shellinabox Project |
- cpe:2.3:a:shellinabox_project:shellinabox:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 2.20 Vulnerable ·Shellinabox Project
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2018-16789
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-c93f-9f7g-fv7h
References
Exploit 2
More Shellinabox Project Shellinabox vulnerabilities
- TI-2015-06920 The HTTPS fallback implementation in Shell In A Box (aka shellinabox) before 2.19 makes… CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.4
Sources
- CVE-2018-16789 · CVE Program
- CVE-2018-16789 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-c93f-9f7g-fv7h · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2018-16789 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences