cpp-httplib: Malicious `X-Forwarded-For` Under Trusted-Proxy Configuration Triggers Empty `vector::front()`, Leading to Undefined Behavior and Server Crash
cpp-httplib is a C++11 single-file header-only cross platform HTTP/HTTPS library. Prior to 0.44.0, When the server has called Server::set_trusted_proxies() with a non-empty trusted-proxy list, an attacker can send an HTTP request that includes an X-Forwarded-For header whose value parses to no valid IP segments. The code path then executes get_client_ip(), which calls front() on an empty std::vector—undefined behavior in C++. On typical implementations this manifests as abnormal process termination (denial of service). With Sanitizers enabled, you get an explicit runtime diagnostic. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.44.0.
Problem Types
| Type | CWE ID | Description |
|---|
| CWE | CWE-476 | CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference |
Type: CWE
Description: CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference
Metrics
| Version | Base score | Base severity | Vector |
|---|
| 4.0 | 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 |
Version: 4.0
Base score: 8.7
Base severity: HIGH
Vector: 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