CVE-2026-48710: Kludex Starlette HTTP Request/Response Smuggling Vulnerability
Kludex · Starlette · NVD published 2026-05-27 · posted 2026-09-02 · last modified 2026-10-01
What it is
Starlette is a lightweight ASGI framework/toolkit. Prior to version 1.0.1, the HTTP `Host` request header was not validated before being used to reconstruct `request.url`. Because the routing algorithm relies on the raw HTTP path while `request.url` is rebuilt from the `Host` header, a malformed header could make `request.url.path` differ from the path that was actually requested. Middleware and endpoints that apply security restrictions based on `request.url` (rather than the raw `scope` path) could therefore be bypassed. Users should upgrade to a version greater than or equal to version 1.0.1, which validates the `Host` header against the grammar of RFC 9112 §3.2 / RFC 3986 §3.2.2 when constructing `request.url` and falls back to `scope["server"]` for malformed values.
| Weakness | CWE-444CWE-1289 |
|---|---|
| CVSS vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N (source: [email protected]) |
| CISA due date | 2026-09-16 (for US federal agencies under BOD; a good deadline for everyone) |
| ATT&CK tactics | n/a |
Exploitation evidence
First exploit evidence seen: 2026-05-26 (earliest date across the sources below).
Exploited in the wild
- CISA KEV: listed since 2026-09-02. Source
Public exploit code
GitHub proof-of-concept repositories
5 public repositories from 5 accounts, first seen 2026-05-26. Most starred: eris-ths/supply-chain-guard (3 stars), view repository.
Verify before running: public PoCs can be malicious. Read the code and only run it in an isolated lab. A PoC means exploit code is public, not that this CVE is exploited in the wild.
Sources: CISA KEV · nomi-sec/PoC-in-GitHub.
No ATT&CK techniques could be mapped or inferred for this CVE yet.
How to fix it
CISA required action
Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines. (source: CISA KEV)
Fixed versions
- encode starlette: upgrade to 1.0.1 or later (affected from 0.8.3)
- redhat migration toolkit for applications: upgrade to 8.2.0 or later
- redhat openshift ai: upgrade to 3.3.5 or later (affected from 3.3)
- redhat openshift ai: upgrade to 3.4.2 or later (affected from 3.4)
Derived from the NVD CPE configuration (versionEndExcluding / versionEndIncluding). Always confirm with the vendor advisory.
Vendor advisories and patches
- https://github.com/Kludex/starlette/security/advisories/GHSA-86qp-5c8j-p5mr (CISA KEV notes)
- https://badhost.org (Mitigation, Third Party Advisory)
- https://github.com/Kludex/starlette/commit/764dab0dcfb9033d75442d7a359645c9f94648c6 (Patch)
- https://ostif.org/disclosing-the-badhost-vulnerability-in-starlette (Mitigation, Third Party Advisory)
- https://www.secwest.net/starlette (Exploit, Mitigation, Third Party Advisory)
- https://www.x41-dsec.de/lab/advisories/x41-2026-002-starlette (Exploit, Mitigation, Third Party Advisory)
Detection Generic guidance
Response checklist Generic guidance
- Inventory: find every instance of the affected product and version (include internet-facing and forgotten ones).
- Patch or mitigate per the vendor advisory; if you cannot patch, remove internet exposure or apply the vendor workaround.
- Assume compromise if the system was exposed before patching: hunt for the indicators in the advisory and review logs back to the disclosure date.
- Rotate credentials and secrets stored on or used by the affected system if compromise cannot be ruled out.
Sources
- NVD: CVE-2026-48710
- CVE.org record
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
- FIRST EPSS (2026-10-24)
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/starlette/PYSEC-2026-161.yaml (Third Party Advisory)
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:22992 (Third Party Advisory)
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:22993 (Third Party Advisory)
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:23346 (Third Party Advisory)
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:24866 (Third Party Advisory)
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:26226 (Third Party Advisory)
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:30088 (Third Party Advisory)
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:30089 (Third Party Advisory)
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:34456 (Third Party Advisory)
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:34526 (Third Party Advisory)
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:34532 (Third Party Advisory)
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:37275 (Third Party Advisory)
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:43038 (Third Party Advisory)
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:44696 (Third Party Advisory)
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:51357 (Third Party Advisory)
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:60520 (Third Party Advisory)
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:63337 (Third Party Advisory)
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-48710 (Third Party Advisory)
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2481742 (Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory)
- https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-48710.json (Third Party Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-48710 (Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource)
- https://www.wiz.io/blog/ai-infrastructure-honeypot (Exploit, Third Party Advisory)
- https:/www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2026/08/26/when-ai-infrastructure-becomes-target-securing-gateways-control-points (Broken Link)