CVE-2026-42581: Netty is an asynchronous, event-driven network application framework

This week

MEDIUM 5.8REMOTEUPGRADE

CVE-2026-42581 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.8) affecting netty. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Netty is an asynchronous, event-driven network application framework. Prior to 4.2.13.Final and 4.1.133.Final, HttpObjectDecoder strips a conflicting Content-Length header when a request carries both Transfer-Encoding: chunked and Content-Length, but only for HTTP/1.1 messages. The guard is absent for HTTP/1.0. An attacker that sends an HTTP/1.0 request with both headers causes Netty to decode the body as chunked while leaving Content-Length inta

Why this priority

Public exploit reference
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.8 (Medium)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.6% (top 50%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-444
Published	2026-05-13
Last modified	2026-09-18

Publisher (CNA): GitHub, Inc. · Vendor: netty

Last updated 2026-09-18 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2026-05-13 19:17 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-09-18 13:18 UTCUpdated Record last modified

netty netty UPGRADE

Affected: < 4.1.133 · >= 4.2.0 and < 4.2.13

Fixed in: 4.1.133, 4.2.13

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.2.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy netty || rpm -q netty || netty --version

2. UPGRADE to 4.1.133 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade netty

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade netty

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 4.2.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison netty sudo apt install netty=<VERSION_BEFORE_4.2.0> sudo apt-mark hold netty

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list netty sudo dnf downgrade netty-<VERSION_BEFORE_4.2.0> sudo dnf versionlock add netty

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
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-2026-42581?

netty: upgrade to 4.1.133, 4.2.13. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2026-42581 being exploited?

CVE-2026-42581 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-2026-42581 affect?

CVE-2026-42581 affects netty. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.8). Netty is an asynchronous, event-driven network application framework. Prior to 4.2.13.Final and 4.1.133.Final, HttpObjectDecoder strips a conflicting Content-Length header when a request carries both Transfer-Encoding: chunked and Content-L

How urgent is CVE-2026-42581?

Priority 43/100. Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Related CVEs

CVE-2026-42587 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE Netty is an asynchronous, event-driven network application framework
CVE-2026-42584 HIGH 7.3 UPGRADE Netty is an asynchronous, event-driven network application framework
CVE-2026-42583 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE Netty is an asynchronous, event-driven network application framework
CVE-2026-42580 MEDIUM 6.5 UPGRADE Netty is an asynchronous, event-driven network application framework
CVE-2026-42585 MEDIUM 6.5 UPGRADE Netty is an asynchronous, event-driven network application framework

References

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