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Findings

CVE-2023-23916

An allocation of resources without limits or throttling vulnerability exists in curl <v7.88.0 based on the "chained" HTTP compression algorithms, meaning that a server…

Published Feb 23, 2023 · corrected/updated Oct 14, 2026 · haxx curl · evidence confidence high

An allocation of resources without limits or throttling vulnerability exists in curl <v7.88.0 based on the "chained" HTTP compression algorithms, meaning that a server response can be compressed multiple times and potentially with differentalgorithms. The number of acceptable "links" in this "decompression chain" wascapped, but the cap was implemented on a per-header basis allowing a maliciousserver to insert a virtually unlimited number of compression steps simply byusing many headers. The use of such a decompression chain could result in a "malloc bomb", making curl end up spending enormous amounts of allocated heap memory, or trying to and returning out of memory errors.

Grounded briefings

Catalog interpretations for three audiences. Each brief cites ingested metadata and the original advisories below. They are not independent research and they do not invent exploit steps.

Executive

CVE-2023-23916 is a medium public vulnerability record for haxx curl. It is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited catalog. Check the linked vendor or CERT advisories for patch status. This summary is a catalog interpretation of the ingested metadata and cites the original advisories below.

System administrator

Identify whether haxx curl is in your estate, then compare installed versions with the affected ranges. Affected packages or ranges on record: debian/debian linux (10.0); debian/debian linux (11.0); fedoraproject/fedora (36); haxx/curl. Check the linked vendor or CERT advisories for patch status. Prefer the vendor or distribution advisory linked in Sources before changing production systems. This is a catalog interpretation, not a runbook.

Security analyst

Signals on file: CVSS 6.5, EPSS 1.7%. It is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited catalog. Weakness classes: CWE-770. Sources contributing to this record: cve_org, epss, nvd. Public exploit references, when present, are outbound links only and are not proof of active exploitation. This is a catalog interpretation of stored metadata.

Exploitation and remediation

  • Exploitation evidence

    Not listed as known exploited in CISA KEV. Not in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • Patch and remediation

    No required-action text is stored yet. Use the vendor or CERT links in Sources for patch availability.

  • Safe detection guidance

    Compare installed versions with the affected ranges below and verify the advisory from the original publisher. This site stores metadata and outbound links only; it does not ship exploit code or proof-of-concept payloads.

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

No public source repository is identified for this product.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Feb 23, 2023 · NIST NVD

    Detected

    An allocation of resources without limits or throttling vulnerability exists in curl <v7.88.0 based on the "chained" HTTP compression algorithms, meaning that a server response can be compressed multiple times and potentially with differentalgorithms. The number of acceptable "links" in this "decompression chain" wascapped, but the cap was implemented on a per-header basis allowing a maliciousserv

  2. Oct 14, 2026 · NIST NVD

    Updated

    An allocation of resources without limits or throttling vulnerability exists in curl <v7.88.0 based on the "chained" HTTP compression algorithms, meaning that a server response can be compressed multiple times and potentially with differentalgorithms. The number of acceptable "links" in this "decompression chain" wascapped, but the cap was implemented on a per-header basis allowing a maliciousserv

Affected

  • cpe debian/debian linux10.0
  • cpe debian/debian linux11.0
  • cpe fedoraproject/fedora36
  • cpe haxx/curlversion unspecified
  • cpe netapp/clustered data ontapversion unspecified
  • cpe netapp/h300s firmwareversion unspecified
  • cpe netapp/h410s firmwareversion unspecified
  • cpe netapp/h500s firmwareversion unspecified
  • cpe netapp/h700s firmwareversion unspecified
  • cpe splunk/universal forwarderversion unspecified

Sources

  • CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2023-23916

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2023-23916

    30-day exploitation probability 1.7%

    first.org
  • NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2023-23916

    An allocation of resources without limits or throttling vulnerability exists in curl <v7.88.0 based on the "chained" HTTP compression algorithms, meaning that a server response can be compressed multiple times and potentially with differentalgorithms. The number of acceptable "li

    nvd.nist.gov

References