Remote service interruption via retained closed streams
Published Sep 7, 2026 · Updated Sep 8, 2026
Memory exhaustion in Protocol::HTTP2 before 1.14 allows remote attackers to interrupt Perl HTTP/2 services via ordinary closed streams. The stream_state routine clears most keys when a stream closes but leaves its entry in the connection stream table, so increasing stream IDs retain memory for the connection lifetime. A peer needs only one long-lived HTTP/2 connection and sequential accepted streams; either a hostile client or server can exhaust the opposite endpoint's memory and interrupt service.
Summary
What happened
Memory exhaustion in Protocol::HTTP2 before 1.14 allows remote attackers to interrupt Perl HTTP/2 services via ordinary closed streams. The stream_state routine clears most keys when a stream closes but leaves its entry in the connection stream table, so increasing stream IDs retain memory for the connection lifetime. A peer needs only one long-lived HTTP/2 connection and sequential accepted streams; either a hostile client or server can exhaust the opposite endpoint's memory and interrupt service.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-16028
- Published
- Sep 7, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 8, 2026
- Vendor
- The Perl Foundation
- Product
- Protocol::HTTP2
- Classifications
- CWE-401, T1499.003
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 7, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 8, 2026Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=0 <1.14
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
No CVSS assessment is available in this record.
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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