CVE-2026-55851 (GCVE-0-2026-55851)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-07-21 21:22 – Updated: 2026-07-21 21:22
VLAI
Title
Netty codec-haproxy: Signed-Byte Sentinel Collision in HAProxyMessageDecoder Leads to Unbounded Memory Exhaustion
Summary
Netty is a network application framework for development of protocol servers and clients. In versions 4.2.0.Final up to (but not including) 4.2.16.Final, and 4.1.0.Final up to (but not including) 4.1.135, the `HAProxyMessageDecoder` in Netty's `codec-haproxy` module performs protocol version detection by reading the 13th byte as a signed Java `byte` and widening it to `int` without masking; a PROXY protocol v2 binary prefix followed by version byte `0xFF` sign-extends to `-1`, collides with the decoder's need-more-data sentinel, and causes `ByteToMessageDecoder` to accumulate inbound bytes in an unbounded `cumulation` buffer until direct memory is exhausted. This issue is fixed in versions 4.1.136.Final and 4.2.16.Final.
Severity
8.7 (High)
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CWE
  • CWE-400 - Uncontrolled Resource Consumption
Assigner
References
Impacted products
Vendor Product Version
netty netty Affected: >= 4.2.0.Final, < 4.2.16.Final
Affected: >= 4.1.0.Final, < 4.1.136.Final
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{
  "containers": {
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "product": "netty",
          "vendor": "netty",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "\u003e= 4.2.0.Final, \u003c 4.2.16.Final"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "\u003e= 4.1.0.Final, \u003c 4.1.136.Final"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "Netty is a network application framework for development of protocol servers and clients. In versions 4.2.0.Final up to (but not including) 4.2.16.Final, and 4.1.0.Final up to (but not including) 4.1.135, the `HAProxyMessageDecoder` in Netty\u0027s `codec-haproxy` module performs protocol version detection by reading the 13th byte as a signed Java `byte` and widening it to `int` without masking; a PROXY protocol v2 binary prefix followed by version byte `0xFF` sign-extends to `-1`, collides with the decoder\u0027s need-more-data sentinel, and causes `ByteToMessageDecoder` to accumulate inbound bytes in an unbounded `cumulation` buffer until direct memory is exhausted. This issue is fixed in versions 4.1.136.Final and 4.2.16.Final."
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV4_0": {
            "attackComplexity": "LOW",
            "attackRequirements": "NONE",
            "attackVector": "NETWORK",
            "baseScore": 8.7,
            "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
            "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
            "subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
            "subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
            "subIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
            "userInteraction": "NONE",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N",
            "version": "4.0",
            "vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
            "vulnConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
            "vulnIntegrityImpact": "NONE"
          }
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
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          "descriptions": [
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              "description": "CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption",
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              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        }
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      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-07-21T21:22:34.879Z",
        "orgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
        "shortName": "GitHub_M"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/netty/netty/security/advisories/GHSA-q6cq-mhr2-jmr5",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_CONFIRM"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/netty/netty/security/advisories/GHSA-q6cq-mhr2-jmr5"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/netty/netty/commit/5b68c61f37aa4a3045cba624cbea239655c9003b",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/netty/netty/commit/5b68c61f37aa4a3045cba624cbea239655c9003b"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/netty/netty/commit/bb2ff68a1fb71cb4b0eb9a9e17b66c52aff680c6",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/netty/netty/commit/bb2ff68a1fb71cb4b0eb9a9e17b66c52aff680c6"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/netty/netty/releases/tag/netty-4.1.136.Final",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/netty/netty/releases/tag/netty-4.1.136.Final"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/netty/netty/releases/tag/netty-4.2.16.Final",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/netty/netty/releases/tag/netty-4.2.16.Final"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "advisory": "GHSA-q6cq-mhr2-jmr5",
        "discovery": "UNKNOWN"
      },
      "title": "Netty codec-haproxy: Signed-Byte Sentinel Collision in HAProxyMessageDecoder Leads to Unbounded Memory Exhaustion"
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
    "assignerShortName": "GitHub_M",
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-55851",
    "datePublished": "2026-07-21T21:22:34.879Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-06-17T16:44:40.995Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-07-21T21:22:34.879Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2",
  "vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
    "nvd": "{\"cve\":{\"id\":\"CVE-2026-55851\",\"sourceIdentifier\":\"security-advisories@github.com\",\"published\":\"2026-07-21T22:17:14.340\",\"lastModified\":\"2026-07-21T22:17:14.340\",\"vulnStatus\":\"Received\",\"cveTags\":[],\"descriptions\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"Netty is a network application framework for development of protocol servers and clients. In versions 4.2.0.Final up to (but not including) 4.2.16.Final, and 4.1.0.Final up to (but not including) 4.1.135, the `HAProxyMessageDecoder` in Netty\u0027s `codec-haproxy` module performs protocol version detection by reading the 13th byte as a signed Java `byte` and widening it to `int` without masking; a PROXY protocol v2 binary prefix followed by version byte `0xFF` sign-extends to `-1`, collides with the decoder\u0027s need-more-data sentinel, and causes `ByteToMessageDecoder` to accumulate inbound bytes in an unbounded `cumulation` buffer until direct memory is exhausted. This issue is fixed in versions 4.1.136.Final and 4.2.16.Final.\"}],\"affected\":[{\"source\":\"security-advisories@github.com\",\"affectedData\":[{\"vendor\":\"netty\",\"product\":\"netty\",\"versions\":[{\"version\":\"\u003e= 4.2.0.Final, \u003c 4.2.16.Final\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"\u003e= 4.1.0.Final, \u003c 4.1.136.Final\",\"status\":\"affected\"}]}]}],\"metrics\":{\"cvssMetricV40\":[{\"source\":\"security-advisories@github.com\",\"type\":\"Secondary\",\"cvssData\":{\"version\":\"4.0\",\"vectorString\":\"CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X\",\"baseScore\":8.7,\"baseSeverity\":\"HIGH\",\"attackVector\":\"NETWORK\",\"attackComplexity\":\"LOW\",\"attackRequirements\":\"NONE\",\"privilegesRequired\":\"NONE\",\"userInteraction\":\"NONE\",\"vulnConfidentialityImpact\":\"NONE\",\"vulnIntegrityImpact\":\"NONE\",\"vulnAvailabilityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"subConfidentialityImpact\":\"NONE\",\"subIntegrityImpact\":\"NONE\",\"subAvailabilityImpact\":\"NONE\",\"exploitMaturity\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"confidentialityRequirement\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"integrityRequirement\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"availabilityRequirement\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"modifiedAttackVector\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"modifiedAttackComplexity\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"modifiedAttackRequirements\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"modifiedPrivilegesRequired\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"modifiedUserInteraction\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"modifiedVulnConfidentialityImpact\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"modifiedVulnIntegrityImpact\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"modifiedVulnAvailabilityImpact\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"modifiedSubConfidentialityImpact\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"modifiedSubIntegrityImpact\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"modifiedSubAvailabilityImpact\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"Safety\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"Automatable\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"Recovery\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"valueDensity\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"vulnerabilityResponseEffort\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"providerUrgency\":\"NOT_DEFINED\"}}]},\"weaknesses\":[{\"source\":\"security-advisories@github.com\",\"type\":\"Primary\",\"description\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"CWE-400\"}]}],\"references\":[{\"url\":\"https://github.com/netty/netty/commit/5b68c61f37aa4a3045cba624cbea239655c9003b\",\"source\":\"security-advisories@github.com\"},{\"url\":\"https://github.com/netty/netty/commit/bb2ff68a1fb71cb4b0eb9a9e17b66c52aff680c6\",\"source\":\"security-advisories@github.com\"},{\"url\":\"https://github.com/netty/netty/releases/tag/netty-4.1.136.Final\",\"source\":\"security-advisories@github.com\"},{\"url\":\"https://github.com/netty/netty/releases/tag/netty-4.2.16.Final\",\"source\":\"security-advisories@github.com\"},{\"url\":\"https://github.com/netty/netty/security/advisories/GHSA-q6cq-mhr2-jmr5\",\"source\":\"security-advisories@github.com\"}]}}"
  }
}



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Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.

Sightings

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Nomenclature

  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
  • Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.


Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.