Node.js is vulnerable to an HTTP/2 memory and file-descriptor leak via a protocol error during session shutdown
Summary
| CVE | CVE-2026-123865 |
|---|---|
| State | PUBLISHED |
| Assigner | openjs |
| Source Priority | CVE Program / NVD first with legacy fallback |
| Published | 2026-11-11 19:17:33 UTC |
| Updated | 2026-11-11 19:17:33 UTC |
| Description | An unauthenticated HTTP/2 client can permanently leak Node.js server memory and file descriptors. If a peer triggers a protocol error, for example an oversized frame header, while the session is already shutting down, nghttp2 tears the session down internally but Node.js never notices, leaving a dangling session: the socket stays in CLOSE_WAIT and all of Node.js's HTTP/2 state for that connection is held in memory indefinitely, with no further cost to the attacker. The attacker can start the shutdown remotely by sending GOAWAY(NO_ERROR), so it is reliable against default HTTP/2 servers. It is an incomplete-fix case of CVE-2026-48937: that fix detected nghttp2 internal terminations by watching for GOAWAY sent while not shutting down, but missed terminations that arrive while the session is already shutting down. This vulnerability affects Node.js 26.x, 24.x, and 22.x. |
Risk And Classification
Primary CVSS: v3.0 7.5 HIGH from ce714d77-add3-4f53-aff5-83d477b104bb
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Problem Types: CWE-400 | CWE-400 Uncontrolled Resource Consumption
| Version | Source | Type | Score | Severity | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 | ce714d77-add3-4f53-aff5-83d477b104bb | Secondary | 7.5 | HIGH | CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H |
| 3.0 | CNA | CVSS | 7.5 | HIGH | CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H |
CVSS v3.0 Breakdown
Attack Vector
NetworkAttack Complexity
LowPrivileges Required
NoneUser Interaction
NoneScope
UnchangedConfidentiality
NoneIntegrity
NoneAvailability
HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Vendor Declared Affected Products
References
| Reference | Source | Link | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|
| cna.openjsf.org/security-advisories.html | ce714d77-add3-4f53-aff5-83d477b104bb | cna.openjsf.org | |
| nodejs.org/en/blog/vulnerability/november-2026-security-releases | ce714d77-add3-4f53-aff5-83d477b104bb | nodejs.org | |
| CVE Program record | CVE.ORG | www.cve.org | canonical |
| NVD vulnerability detail | NVD | nvd.nist.gov | canonical, analysis |
Vendor Comments And Credit
Discovery Credit
CNA: pimterry (en)
CNA: mcollina (en)
CNA: aduh95 (en)
There are currently no legacy QID mappings associated with this CVE.