AsyncHttpClient: SOCKS proxy credentials sent to the origin server over plaintext HTTP
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Information disclosure
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-319.
Summary
The AsyncHttpClient (AHC) library allows Java applications to easily execute HTTP requests and asynchronously process HTTP responses. From 2.1.0 until 2.16.1 and 3.0.12, requests using an authenticated SOCKS proxy can expose the proxy's credentials to the origin because NettyRequestFactory and NettyRequestSender attach Proxy-Authorization without confirming that the request is being sent to an HTTP proxy. With preemptive proxy authentication, the header is attached to a plaintext HTTP request, exposing credentials such as directly reversible Basic credentials to the origin. With the default non-preemptive flow, a hostile origin can return a 407 response and ProxyUnauthorized407Interceptor sends the proxy credentials through the existing SOCKS tunnel, including NTLM, Kerberos, and SPNEGO credentials. Releases before 2.1.0 lack SOCKS proxy support. This issue is fixed in versions 2.16.1 and 3.0.12.
Why it matters now
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AsyncHttpClient | async-http-client | 2.1.0 to before 2.16.1; 3.0.0 to before 3.0.12 | 2.16.1, 3.0.12 | Patch available | CNA |
- async-http-client VendorAsyncHttpClient Affected 2.1.0 to before 2.16.1; 3.0.0 to before 3.0.12 Fixed in 2.16.1, 3.0.12 Patch available CNA
Remediation
- Fix · CNA async-http-client (AsyncHttpClient) Fixed in 2.16.1, 3.0.12
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Fuse 7
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-85719
References
Other 5
- https://github.com/AsyncHttpClient/async-http-client/security/advisories/GHSA-x5w6-vm3f-pp6f
- https://github.com/AsyncHttpClient/async-http-client/commit/4d887704dec22027310f66c81503226722e9bd23
- https://github.com/AsyncHttpClient/async-http-client/commit/718ed2e86126663a88ea3db7a88cbbf93f0069b5
- https://github.com/AsyncHttpClient/async-http-client/commit/abaa8bd260beda3b85825ff95069ed11eaf4ca8d
- https://github.com/AsyncHttpClient/async-http-client/commit/be439b2ec773d12d61914c238d3e8eeaa6f0ba21
More AsyncHttpClient vulnerabilities
- TI-2024-36149 AsyncHttpClient (AHC) library's `CookieStore` replaces explicitly defined `Cookie`s CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.2
- TI-2026-69321 Cross-host replay in AsyncHttpClient leaks credentials to new host CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.4
- TI-2026-69315 AsyncHttpClient sends passwords in cleartext after Digest downgrade CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
- TI-2026-58825 AsyncHttpClient: Unbounded HTTP/1.1 response decompression enables a decompression-bomb denial of service CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2026-69311 Unbounded WebSocket decompression in AsyncHttpClient enables DoS CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2026-69317 AsyncHttpClient skips Digest mutual authentication for qop=auth-int CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.8
Sources
- CVE-2026-85719 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-85719 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- CVE-2026-85719 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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