PatchTheCVECVE-2017-16098: charset 1.0.0 and below are vulnerable to regular expression denial of service
CVE-2017-16098 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) affecting charset. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.
charset 1.0.0 and below are vulnerable to regular expression denial of service. Input of around 50k characters is required for a slow down of around 2 seconds. Unless node was compiled using the -DHTTP_MAX_HEADER_SIZE= option the default header max length is 80kb, so the impact of the ReDoS is relatively low.
Why this priority
- High severity
- Public exploit reference
- Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
A fixed release or distro patch exists.
Risk facts
| CVSS score | 7.5 (High) |
| Attack vector | Network (remote) |
| Attack complexity | Low |
| Privileges needed | None |
| User interaction | None |
| EPSS exploit chance | 1.6% (top 24%) |
| CISA exploited list | No |
| Weakness | CWE-400 |
| Published | 2018-06-07 |
| Last modified | 2026-06-17 |
Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score
Am I affected?
Timeline
- Published CVE record published
- Updated Record last modified
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.
Quick answers
How do I fix CVE-2017-16098?
charset: upgrade to 1.0.1. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.
Is CVE-2017-16098 being exploited?
CVE-2017-16098 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.
What does CVE-2017-16098 affect?
CVE-2017-16098 affects charset. Severity is high (CVSS 7.5). charset 1.0.0 and below are vulnerable to regular expression denial of service. Input of around 50k characters is required for a slow down of around 2 seconds. Unless node was compiled using the -DHTTP_MAX_HEADER_SIZE= option the default he
How urgent is CVE-2017-16098?
Priority 55/100. High severity; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action