CVE-2026-92390
Description
A flaw was found in curl. When the command-line tool is executed with the remote header name option to prevent overwriting existing files, a malicious server can bypass this protection by returning an intermediate HTTP 103 (Early Hints) response or through specific header ordering. This flaw allows an attacker controlling a remote server to overwrite existing local files on the client system.
Statement
This vulnerability is rated as Low severity because it is confined to the curl command-line utility, leaves the underlying libcurl library unaffected, and requires explicit use of non-default command arguments against an untrusted remote server. In typical Red Hat enterprise deployments, core services and applications integrate with libcurl for HTTP transfers rather than invoking the standalone CLI, significantly limiting exposure. Exploitation depends on user interaction where an administrator or script actively downloads files using the remote header naming option while handling specific server response codes like 103 Early Hints.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 6.5 | N/A | 7.5 |
| Attack Vector | Network | N/A | Network |
| Attack Complexity | Low | N/A | Low |
| Privileges Required | None | N/A | None |
| User Interaction | Required | N/A | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | N/A | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | None | N/A | None |
| Integrity Impact | High | N/A | High |
| Availability Impact | None | N/A | None |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Integrity,Confidentiality
Technical Impact: Read Files or Directories
The application can operate on unexpected files, such as system files or configuration files. Confidentiality is violated when the targeted filename is not directly readable by the attacker.
Integrity,Confidentiality,Availability
Technical Impact: Modify Files or Directories; Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
The application can operate on unexpected files. This may violate integrity if the filename is written to, or if the filename is for a program or other form of executable code.
Availability
Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart; DoS: Resource Consumption (Other)
The application can operate on unexpected files. Availability can be violated if the attacker specifies an unexpected file that the application modifies. Availability can also be affected if the attacker specifies a filename for a large file, or points to a special device or a file that does not have the format that the application expects.
Acknowledgements
Red Hat would like to thank Joshua Rogers (Aisle Research) for reporting this issue.
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