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CVE-2026-5438

Full vulnerability record from the local CVENow database.

Description

A gzip decompression bomb vulnerability exists when Orthanc processes HTTP request with `Content-Encoding: gzip`. The server does not enforce limits on decompressed size and allocates memory based on attacker-controlled compression metadata. A specially crafted gzip payload can trigger excessive memory allocation and exhaust system memory.

Severity
HIGH
CVSS score
7.5 (v3.1)
Vulnerability status
Analyzed
Source identifier
Published
2026-04-09 15:16:15.327000
Last modified
2026-10-26 00:10:00.150000
View original CVE JSON
{
  "id": "CVE-2026-5438",
  "sourceIdentifier": "[email protected]",
  "published": "2026-04-09T15:16:15.327",
  "lastModified": "2026-10-26T00:10:00.150",
  "vulnStatus": "Analyzed",
  "cveTags": [],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "A gzip decompression bomb vulnerability exists when Orthanc processes HTTP request with `Content-Encoding: gzip`. The server does not enforce limits on decompressed size and allocates memory based on attacker-controlled compression metadata. A specially crafted gzip payload can trigger excessive memory allocation and exhaust system memory."
    },
    {
      "lang": "es",
      "value": "Una vulnerabilidad de bomba de descompresión gzip existe cuando Orthanc procesa solicitudes HTTP con ’Content-Encoding: gzip’. El servidor no impone límites en el tamaño descomprimido y asigna memoria basándose en metadatos de compresión controlados por el atacante. Una carga útil gzip especialmente diseñada puede desencadenar una asignación excesiva de memoria y agotar la memoria del sistema."
    }
  ],
  "affected": [
    {
      "source": "[email protected]",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "vendor": "Orthanc",
          "product": "DICOM Server",
          "versions": [
            {
              "version": "0",
              "lessThanOrEqual": "1.12.10",
              "versionType": "custom",
              "status": "affected"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "metrics": {
    "cvssMetricV31": [
      {
        "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
        "type": "Secondary",
        "cvssData": {
          "version": "3.1",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
          "baseScore": 7.5,
          "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
          "attackVector": "NETWORK",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
          "userInteraction": "NONE",
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
          "confidentialityImpact": "NONE",
          "integrityImpact": "NONE",
          "availabilityImpact": "HIGH"
        },
        "exploitabilityScore": 3.9,
        "impactScore": 3.6
      }
    ],
    "ssvcV203": [
      {
        "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
        "ssvcData": {
          "timestamp": "2026-04-14T15:13:20.018057Z",
          "id": "CVE-2026-5438",
          "options": [
            {
              "exploitation": "none"
            },
            {
              "automatable": "yes"
            },
            {
              "technicalImpact": "partial"
            }
          ],
          "role": "CISA Coordinator",
          "version": "2.0.3"
        }
      }
    ]
  },
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "source": "[email protected]",
      "type": "Primary",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-770"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "configurations": [
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "operator": "OR",
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "vulnerable": true,
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:orthanc-server:orthanc:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "versionEndExcluding": "1.12.11",
              "matchCriteriaId": "A259075D-8B77-4B04-BC42-3E5ABE9DFE1F"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "references": [
    {
      "url": "https://kb.cert.org/vuls/id/536588",
      "source": "[email protected]",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory",
        "VDB Entry"
      ]
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.machinespirits.de/",
      "source": "[email protected]",
      "tags": [
        "Not Applicable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.orthanc-server.com/",
      "source": "[email protected]",
      "tags": [
        "Product"
      ]
    }
  ]
}