CVE-2026-48005
Description
A flaw was found in the mod_auth_digest module of the Apache HTTP Server. When Digest authentication is configured with nonce-count checking enabled, missing authentication checks allow an unauthenticated remote attacker to submit forged HTTP Authorization headers. This flaw can lead to a Denial of Service (DoS) condition by disrupting valid sessions and repeatedly forcing legitimate users to re-authenticate.
Mitigation
To mitigate this issue, disable nonce-count verification by setting `AuthDigestNcCheck Off` within the relevant configuration context in `/etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf` or `/etc/httpd/conf.d/`:
AuthDigestNcCheck Off
Alternatively, if Digest authentication is not required, disable `mod_auth_digest` by commenting out the corresponding `LoadModule auth_digest_module` line in `/etc/httpd/conf.modules.d/00-base.conf`.
After modifying the configuration, reload the service:
systemctl reload httpd
Caveats: Disabling `AuthDigestNcCheck` removes server-side nonce-count checking, reducing replay protection for Digest authentication.
Warning: Reloading the httpd service can momentarily disrupt in-flight connections.
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 | 3.7 | N/A | 7.5 |
| Attack Vector | Network | N/A | Network |
| Attack Complexity | High | N/A | Low |
| Privileges Required | None | N/A | None |
| User Interaction | None | N/A | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | N/A | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | None | N/A | None |
| Integrity Impact | None | N/A | None |
| Availability Impact | Low | N/A | High |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Access Control
Technical Impact: Bypass Protection Mechanism
Frequently Asked Questions
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