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Ruby WEBrick read_headers method can lead to HTTP Request/Response Smuggling

Moderate severity GitHub Reviewed Published Jun 26, 2025 to the GitHub Advisory Database • Updated Jun 30, 2025

Package

bundler webrick (RubyGems)

Affected versions

< 1.8.2

Patched versions

1.8.2

Description

Ruby WEBrick read_header HTTP Request Smuggling Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to smuggle arbitrary HTTP requests on affected installations of Ruby WEBrick. This issue is exploitable when the product is deployed behind an HTTP proxy that fulfills specific conditions.

The specific flaw exists within the read_headers method. The issue results from the inconsistent parsing of terminators of HTTP headers. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to smuggle arbitrary HTTP requests. Was ZDI-CAN-21876.

References

Published by the National Vulnerability Database Jun 25, 2025
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database Jun 26, 2025
Reviewed Jun 27, 2025
Last updated Jun 30, 2025

Severity

Moderate

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
High
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
High
Availability
None

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector: More severe the more the remote (logically and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerability.
Attack complexity: More severe for the least complex attacks.
Privileges required: More severe if no privileges are required.
User interaction: More severe when no user interaction is required.
Scope: More severe when a scope change occurs, e.g. one vulnerable component impacts resources in components beyond its security scope.
Confidentiality: More severe when loss of data confidentiality is highest, measuring the level of data access available to an unauthorized user.
Integrity: More severe when loss of data integrity is the highest, measuring the consequence of data modification possible by an unauthorized user.
Availability: More severe when the loss of impacted component availability is highest.
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N

EPSS score

Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)

This score estimates the probability of this vulnerability being exploited within the next 30 days. Data provided by FIRST.
(17th percentile)

Weaknesses

Inconsistent Interpretation of HTTP Requests ('HTTP Request/Response Smuggling')

The product acts as an intermediary HTTP agent (such as a proxy or firewall) in the data flow between two entities such as a client and server, but it does not interpret malformed HTTP requests or responses in ways that are consistent with how the messages will be processed by those entities that are at the ultimate destination. Learn more on MITRE.

CVE ID

CVE-2025-6442

GHSA ID

GHSA-r995-q44h-hr64

Source code

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