Apache bRPC HPACK Decoder Stack Exhaustion via Recursive Table Size Updates
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
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-674.
Summary
Uncontrolled recursion in the HTTP/2 HPACK decoder in Apache bRPC before 1.18.0 lets remote attackers cause a denial of service. A crafted HTTP/2 header block with many consecutive Dynamic Table Size Update entries makes the decoder recurse once per entry, which can exhaust the thread stack before a header field or the end of input is reached. The issue affects bRPC deployments that use the built-in HTTP/2 implementation to accept traffic from an untrusted network. CWE-674 covers the root cause: the decoder does not bound the recursion depth.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-30
Description from the CNA
Uncontrolled recursion in the HTTP/2 HPACK decoder in Apache bRPC before 1.18.0 allows remote attackers to cause denial of service by sending a crafted HTTP/2 header block containing many consecutive Dynamic Table Size Update entries. Each update was decoded by recursively invoking the HPACK decoder, which could exhaust the thread stack before a header field or end of input was reached. Root Cause: The bRPC HPACK decoder recursively decoded the next entry after processing a Dynamic Table Size Update. The decoder did not bound the recursion depth, so a long sequence of update entries could consume excessive stack space. Affected Scenarios: Use bRPC with the built-in HTTP/2 implementation to accept HTTP/2 traffic from an untrusted network. How to Fix: 1. Upgrade bRPC to version 1.18.0, which fixes this issue. 2. Apply this patch: https://github.com/apache/brpc/pull/3343 Note: The fix changes HPACK Dynamic Table Size Update decoding to use iterative parsing instead of recursive parsing.
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
Remediation
Upgrade Apache bRPC to version 1.18.0, which fixes this issue. Alternatively, apply the patch in pull request 3343 on the apache/brpc GitHub repository, which changes Dynamic Table Size Update decoding to iterative parsing.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-30
- Fix · CNA Apache bRPC (Apache Software Foundation) Fixed in 1.18.0
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Advisory ·
Apache bRPC — lists.apache.org/thread/2pf15ojj0vr7rtx95677kgtl1mx3gdgb
35 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 18 MEDIUM, 17 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2026-78552 Out-of-bounds write in Apache bRPC Redis command parserPriority MEDIUM 49
- TI-2026-78757 Authentication bypass in Apache bRPC servers using internal_portPriority MEDIUM 48
- TI-2026-78742 Missing authentication in Apache bRPC streaming RPC framesPriority MEDIUM 48
Timeline
- 2026-10-21 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-54425
- 2026-10-21 Alias added: GHSA-95vv-8ch6-6f8f
- 2026-10-30 CVSS score added · CISA ADP
- 2026-10-30 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-31 EPSS moved to the 50th–90th percentile
- 2026-11-01 Priority changed: LOW → MEDIUM
References
More Apache vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-18529 Apache Tomcat: Potential RCE and/or information disclosure and/or information corruption with partial PUT KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2024-30292 Apache OFBiz: Confused controller-view authorization logic (forced browsing) KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2024-26062 Apache OFBiz: Unauthenticated endpoint could allow execution of screen rendering code KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2024-21190 Apache OFBiz: Path traversal leading to RCE KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2024-18186 Apache HugeGraph-Server: Command execution in gremlin KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2023-25106 Deserialization of untrusted data in Apache ActiveMQ KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
Sources
- CVE-2026-54425 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-54425 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-95vv-8ch6-6f8f · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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