CVE-2023-43810Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Server memory exhaustion via unbounded HTTP-method metrics

Published Oct 6, 2023 · Updated Sep 19, 2024

Uncontrolled resource consumption in OpenTelemetry Python Contrib before 0.41b0 allows remote attackers to exhaust server memory. WSGI instrumentation copies each unrecognized request method into the http.method metric label, creating a distinct time series for every attacker-chosen value. Exposure requires an instrumented HTTP handler and no CDN, load balancer, or earlier middleware that rejects unknown methods; repeated long, random methods can interrupt the server through memory exhaustion.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.69%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Uncontrolled resource consumption in OpenTelemetry Python Contrib before 0.41b0 allows remote attackers to exhaust server memory. WSGI instrumentation copies each unrecognized request method into the http.method metric label, creating a distinct time series for every attacker-chosen value. Exposure requires an instrumented HTTP handler and no CDN, load balancer, or earlier middleware that rejects unknown methods; repeated long, random methods can interrupt the server through memory exhaustion.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-43810
Published
Oct 6, 2023
Updated
Sep 19, 2024
Vendor
OpenTelemetry
Product
OpenTelemetry Python Contrib
Classifications
CWE-400, T1499.003
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 6, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 19, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=< 0.41b0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

OpenTelemetry · OpenTelemetry Python Contribversion=< 0.41b0

Published CVSS scores

7.5GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-400Uncontrolled Resource Consumption
T1499.003Application Exhaustion Flood

Public exploit references

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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