HAPI FHIR: ReDoS via FHIRPath matches()/replaceMatches() in FHIR Validator HTTP Endpoint
Priority MEDIUM 40CWE-1333Published · 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
- Partial Red Hat: 2 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA, GitHub and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-1333.
Summary
HAPI FHIR is a complete implementation of the HL7 FHIR standard for healthcare interoperability in Java. Prior to 6.9.9 and 6.9.4.2, all implementations of FHIRPathEngine accept arbitrary FHIRPath expressions and evaluate them without input validation, and the FHIRPath functions matches(), matchesFull(), and replaceMatches() pass user-controlled regular expressions to Java's Pattern.compile() and String.replaceAll() through an incomplete timeout utility. An attacker can send a resource containing an evil regex pattern that causes catastrophic backtracking, exhausting CPU resources and causing denial of service in the FHIR Validator HTTP endpoint and affected org.hl7.fhir.* modules. This issue is fixed in versions 6.9.9 and 6.9.4.2.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00684 52nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial org.hl7.fhir.core (hapifhir): 6.9.4.2, 6.9.9ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.dstu2 (Maven): 6.9.9, 6.9.4.2+7 more productsRed Hat: 2 without a fix
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| hapifhir | org.hl7.fhir.core | before 6.9.4.2; 6.9.5 to before 6.9.9 | 6.9.4.2, 6.9.9 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.dstu2 (Maven) | 6.9.5 to before 6.9.9 | 6.9.9 | Patch available | GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv |
| — | ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.dstu2016may (Maven) | 6.9.5 to before 6.9.9 | 6.9.9 | Patch available | GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv |
| — | ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.dstu3 (Maven) | 6.9.5 to before 6.9.9 | 6.9.9 | Patch available | GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv |
| — | ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.r4 (Maven) | 6.9.5 to before 6.9.9 | 6.9.9 | Patch available | GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv |
| — | ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.r4b (Maven) | 6.9.5 to before 6.9.9 | 6.9.9 | Patch available | GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv |
| — | ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.r5 (Maven) | 6.9.5 to before 6.9.9 | 6.9.9 | Patch available | GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv |
| — | ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.validation (Maven) | 6.9.5 to before 6.9.9 | 6.9.9 | Patch available | GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv |
| — | ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.validation.cli (Maven) | 6.9.5 to before 6.9.9 | 6.9.9 | Patch available | GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv |
| — | ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.dstu2 (Maven) | before 6.9.4.2 | 6.9.4.2 | Patch available | GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv |
| — | ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.dstu2016may (Maven) | before 6.9.4.2 | 6.9.4.2 | Patch available | GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv |
| — | ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.dstu3 (Maven) | before 6.9.4.2 | 6.9.4.2 | Patch available | GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv |
| — | ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.r4 (Maven) | before 6.9.4.2 | 6.9.4.2 | Patch available | GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv |
| — | ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.r4b (Maven) | before 6.9.4.2 | 6.9.4.2 | Patch available | GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv |
| — | ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.r5 (Maven) | before 6.9.4.2 | 6.9.4.2 | Patch available | GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv |
| — | ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.validation (Maven) | before 6.9.4.2 | 6.9.4.2 | Patch available | GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv |
| — | ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.validation.cli (Maven) | before 6.9.4.2 | 6.9.4.2 | Patch available | GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv |
- org.hl7.fhir.core Vendorhapifhir Affected before 6.9.4.2; 6.9.5 to before 6.9.9 Fixed in 6.9.4.2, 6.9.9 Patch available CNA
- ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.dstu2 (Maven) Vendor— Affected 6.9.5 to before 6.9.9 Fixed in 6.9.9 Patch available GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv
- ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.dstu2016may (Maven) Vendor— Affected 6.9.5 to before 6.9.9 Fixed in 6.9.9 Patch available GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv
- ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.dstu3 (Maven) Vendor— Affected 6.9.5 to before 6.9.9 Fixed in 6.9.9 Patch available GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv
- ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.r4 (Maven) Vendor— Affected 6.9.5 to before 6.9.9 Fixed in 6.9.9 Patch available GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv
- ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.r4b (Maven) Vendor— Affected 6.9.5 to before 6.9.9 Fixed in 6.9.9 Patch available GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv
- ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.r5 (Maven) Vendor— Affected 6.9.5 to before 6.9.9 Fixed in 6.9.9 Patch available GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv
- ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.validation (Maven) Vendor— Affected 6.9.5 to before 6.9.9 Fixed in 6.9.9 Patch available GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv
- ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.validation.cli (Maven) Vendor— Affected 6.9.5 to before 6.9.9 Fixed in 6.9.9 Patch available GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv
- ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.dstu2 (Maven) Vendor— Affected before 6.9.4.2 Fixed in 6.9.4.2 Patch available GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv
- ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.dstu2016may (Maven) Vendor— Affected before 6.9.4.2 Fixed in 6.9.4.2 Patch available GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv
- ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.dstu3 (Maven) Vendor— Affected before 6.9.4.2 Fixed in 6.9.4.2 Patch available GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv
- ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.r4 (Maven) Vendor— Affected before 6.9.4.2 Fixed in 6.9.4.2 Patch available GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv
- ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.r4b (Maven) Vendor— Affected before 6.9.4.2 Fixed in 6.9.4.2 Patch available GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv
- ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.r5 (Maven) Vendor— Affected before 6.9.4.2 Fixed in 6.9.4.2 Patch available GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv
- ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.validation (Maven) Vendor— Affected before 6.9.4.2 Fixed in 6.9.4.2 Patch available GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv
- ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.validation.cli (Maven) Vendor— Affected before 6.9.4.2 Fixed in 6.9.4.2 Patch available GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv
Remediation
- Fix · CNA org.hl7.fhir.core (hapifhir) Fixed in 6.9.4.2, 6.9.9
- Fix · GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.dstu2 (Maven) Fixed in 6.9.9 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.dstu2016may (Maven) Fixed in 6.9.9 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.dstu3 (Maven) Fixed in 6.9.9 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.r4 (Maven) Fixed in 6.9.9 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.r4b (Maven) Fixed in 6.9.9 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.r5 (Maven) Fixed in 6.9.9 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.validation (Maven) Fixed in 6.9.9 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.validation.cli (Maven) Fixed in 6.9.9 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.dstu2 (Maven) Fixed in 6.9.4.2 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.dstu2016may (Maven) Fixed in 6.9.4.2 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.dstu3 (Maven) Fixed in 6.9.4.2 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.r4 (Maven) Fixed in 6.9.4.2 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.r4b (Maven) Fixed in 6.9.4.2 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.r5 (Maven) Fixed in 6.9.4.2 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.validation (Maven) Fixed in 6.9.4.2 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv ca.uhn.hapi.fhir:org.hl7.fhir.validation.cli (Maven) Fixed in 6.9.4.2 Advisory →
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Fuse 7 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat build of Apache Camel 4 for Quarkus 3 | Affected | No fix yet |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-49485
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv
- 2026-10-24 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-24 CVSS score added · Red Hat
References
Other 7
- https://github.com/hapifhir/org.hl7.fhir.core/security/advisories/GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv
- https://github.com/hapifhir/org.hl7.fhir.core/pull/2463
- https://github.com/hapifhir/org.hl7.fhir.core/commit/109c88837c032ef399b2eb87ddde86692065cf41
- https://github.com/hapifhir/org.hl7.fhir.core/commit/e08982d2b6f6dcd6c670a762d9cf999179fbe4ed
- https://github.com/hapifhir/org.hl7.fhir.core/releases/tag/6.9.4.2
- https://github.com/hapifhir/org.hl7.fhir.core/releases/tag/6.9.9
- https://github.com/hapifhir/org.hl7.fhir.core
More hapifhir vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-26647 HAPI FHIR: Unauthenticated SSRF via /loadIG Chains with startsWith() Credential Leak for Authentication Token Theft CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.3
- TI-2026-40028 HAPI FHIR: XXE in XsltUtilities.saxonTransform via unhardened Saxon TransformerFactory CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
- TI-2026-26645 HAPI FHIR: Authentication Credential Leakage via Improper URL Prefix Matching on HTTP Redirect in HAPI FHIR Core CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
- TI-2026-56488 HAPI FHIR: SHCParser DEFLATE infinite loop causes denial of service CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2026-56487 HAPI FHIR: SHCParser unbounded DEFLATE decompression causes denial of service CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2026-44485 HAPI FHIR: XHTML narrative parser unbounded recursion causes StackOverflow denial of service CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
Sources
- CVE-2026-49485 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-49485 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-7cmj-v6x8-frvv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-49485 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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