CVE-2026-2229

HIGH7.5EPSS 0.18%

Undici has Unhandled Exception in WebSocket Client Due to Invalid server_max_window_bits Validation

Published: 3/13/2026Modified: 3/18/2026
Also known as:GHSA-v9p9-hfj2-hcw8CGA-gmm5-x3fp-m45fDEBIAN-CVE-2026-2229

Description

### Impact The 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: 1. The `isValidClientWindowBits()` function only validates that the value contains ASCII digits, not that it falls within the valid range 8-15 2. The `createInflateRaw()` call is not wrapped in a try-catch block 3. The resulting exception propagates up through the call stack and crashes the Node.js process ### Patches _Has the problem been patched? What versions should users upgrade to?_ ### Workarounds _Is there a way for users to fix or remediate the vulnerability without upgrading?_

Affected packages (2)

CVSS scores

SourceVersionSeverityVector
osvCVSS 3.1HIGH7.5CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

References (8)