CVE-2026-2229

undici is vulnerable to Unhandled Exception in undici WebSocket Client Due to Invalid server_max_window_bits Validation

Published Mar 12, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.5 High EPSS 1.0% KEV · Not listed
Description
ImpactThe undici WebSocket client is vulnerable to a denial-of-service attack due to improper validation of the server_max_window_bits parameter in the permessage-deflate extension. When a WebSocket client connects to a server, it automatically advertises support for permessage-deflate compression. A malicious server can respond with an out-of-range server_max_window_bits value (outside zlib's valid range of 8-15). When the server subsequently sends a compressed frame, the client attempts to create a zlib InflateRaw instance with the invalid windowBits value, causing a synchronous RangeError exception that is not caught, resulting in immediate process termination.

The vulnerability exists because:

* The isValidClientWindowBits() function only validates that the value contains ASCII digits, not that it falls within the valid range 8-15
* The createInflateRaw() call is not wrapped in a try-catch block
* The resulting exception propagates up through the call stack and crashes the Node.js process

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-v9p9-hfj2-hcw8 Undici has Unhandled Exception in WebSocket Client Due to Invalid server_max_window_bits Validation
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Nodejs
Nodejs undici
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:nodejs:undici:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:*
Vendors & Products Nodejs
Nodejs undici
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Undici
Undici undici
Vendors & Products Undici
Undici undici
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description ImpactThe undici WebSocket client is vulnerable to a denial-of-service attack due to improper validation of the server_max_window_bits parameter in the permessage-deflate extension. When a WebSocket client connects to a server, it automatically advertises support for permessage-deflate compression. A malicious server can respond with an out-of-range server_max_window_bits value (outside zlib's valid range of 8-15). When the server subsequently sends a compressed frame, the client attempts to create a zlib InflateRaw instance with the invalid windowBits value, causing a synchronous RangeError exception that is not caught, resulting in immediate process termination. The vulnerability exists because: * The isValidClientWindowBits() function only validates that the value contains ASCII digits, not that it falls within the valid range 8-15 * The createInflateRaw() call is not wrapped in a try-catch block * The resulting exception propagates up through the call stack and crashes the Node.js process
Title undici is vulnerable to Unhandled Exception in undici WebSocket Client Due to Invalid server_max_window_bits Validation
Weaknesses CWE-1284
CWE-248
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
openjs
Published
Updated
Sep 14, 2026, 12:04 PM
Reserved
Feb 8, 2026, 5:51 PM
Status
Modified
Published
Mar 12, 2026, 9:16 PM
Modified
Sep 4, 2026, 1:18 PM
Severity
Important
Public date
Mar 12, 2026, 8:27 PM