CVE-2023-38285Network attack vector

Service interruption via inefficient request transformations

Published Jul 26, 2023 · Updated Oct 23, 2024

Algorithmic complexity in Trustwave ModSecurity 3.x before 3.0.10 allows remote attackers to delay web request processing. The removeWhitespace, removeNull, replaceNull, and removeCommentsChar transformations process crafted large values with inefficient worst-case behavior. Exploitation requires configured rules to invoke an affected transformation; concurrent malicious requests can delay legitimate traffic and render the web server unresponsive.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.90%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Algorithmic complexity in Trustwave ModSecurity 3.x before 3.0.10 allows remote attackers to delay web request processing. The removeWhitespace, removeNull, replaceNull, and removeCommentsChar transformations process crafted large values with inefficient worst-case behavior. Exploitation requires configured rules to invoke an affected transformation; concurrent malicious requests can delay legitimate traffic and render the web server unresponsive.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-38285
Published
Jul 26, 2023
Updated
Oct 23, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-407, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 26, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 23, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-407Inefficient Algorithmic Complexity
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation Flood

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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