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SOC/SIEM Consultancy

Critical Apache HTTP/2 Flaw (CVE-2026-23918) Enables DoS and Potential RCE
Published:
5 May 2026 at 16:19:00
Alert date:
5 May 2026 at 17:01:38
Source:
thehackernews.com
Web Technologies, Zero-Day Vulnerabilities
The Apache Software Foundation has released security updates to address a critical vulnerability in the HTTP Server. CVE-2026-23918 is a severe HTTP/2 protocol handling flaw with a CVSS score of 8.8. The vulnerability involves a double free condition that could potentially lead to remote code execution (RCE). This affects the Apache HTTP Server's HTTP/2 implementation and poses significant security risks. Organizations using Apache HTTP Server with HTTP/2 enabled should apply the security updates immediately to prevent potential exploitation.
Technical details
CVE-2026-23918 is a double-free vulnerability in Apache httpd 2.4.66 mod_http2, specifically in the stream cleanup path of h2_mplx.c. The bug triggers when a client sends an HTTP/2 HEADERS frame immediately followed by RST_STREAM with a non-zero error code on the same stream, before the multiplexer has registered the stream. Two nghttp2 callbacks fire in sequence, causing the same h2_stream pointer to be pushed onto the spurge cleanup array twice. When c1_purge_streams iterates and calls h2_stream_destroy on each entry, the second call hits already freed memory. The RCE path requires APR with mmap allocator and uses Apache's scoreboard memory as a stable container for fake structures.
Mitigation steps:
Users are advised to upgrade to Apache HTTP Server version 2.4.67 which addresses this vulnerability. Apply the latest fixes for optimal protection.
Affected products:
Apache HTTP Server 2.4.66
Related links:
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-23918
https://httpd.apache.org/security/vulnerabilities_24.html
https://lists.apache.org/thread/otwt07gfnp6x2b58hnbghgs9r4ovy3yf
https://httpd.apache.org/docs/current/mod/mod_http2.html
https://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/mpm.html
https://apr.apache.org/
https://httpd.apache.org/docs/current/mod/prefork.html
Related CVE's:
Related threat actors:
IOC's:
This article was created with the assistance of AI technology by Perceptive.
