Description
Apache webserver 2.0.52 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) via an HTTP GET request with a MIME header containing multiple lines with a large number of space characters.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | apache2 | 2.0.52-2 | — |
| Debian 13 | apache2 | 2.0.52-2 | — |
| Debian 12 | apache2 | 2.0.52-2 | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 3 | httpd +1 | 2.0.46-44.ent | RHSA-2004:562 |
| RHEL 3 | mod_ssl | 1:2.0.46-44.ent | RHSA-2004:562 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- Apache 2.0.52 - GET Denial of Service EDB-855 · dos · Mar 4, 2005 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 1
- RHSA-2004:562 Red Hat Security Advisory: httpd security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
References
- RHSA-2004:562 vendor-advisory
- http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2006-081.htm
- 20041101 DoS in Apache 2.0.52 ? mailing-list
- MDKSA-2004:135 vendor-advisory
- apache-http-get-dos(17930) vdb-entry
- 19072 third-party-advisory
- HPSBUX01123 vendor-advisory
- APPLE-SA-2005-08-15 vendor-advisory
- 2004-0061 vendor-advisory
- SSRT4876 vendor-advisory
- APPLE-SA-2005-08-17 vendor-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:10962 vdb-entry signature
- 102198 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2006-0789 vdb-entry
- [httpd-cvs] 20190815 svn commit: r1048742 [2/4] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/vulnerabilities-httpd.xml security/vulnerabilities_13.html security/vulnerabilities_20.html security/vulnerabilities_22.html security/vulnerabilit mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20190815 svn commit: r1048743 [2/4] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/vulnerabilities-httpd.xml security/vulnerabilities_13.html security/vulnerabilities_20.html security/vulnerabilities_22.html security/vulnerabilit mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20200401 svn commit: r1058586 [2/4] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/vulnerabilities-httpd.xml security/vulnerabilities_13.html security/vulnerabilities_20.html security/vulnerabilities_22.html security/vulnerabilit mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20200401 svn commit: r1058587 [2/4] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/vulnerabilities-httpd.xml security/vulnerabilities_13.html security/vulnerabilities_20.html security/vulnerabilities_22.html security/vulnerabilit mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20210330 svn commit: r1073139 [1/13] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/json/ mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20210330 svn commit: r1073139 [3/13] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/json/ mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20210330 svn commit: r1888194 [3/13] - /httpd/site/trunk/content/security/json/ mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20210330 svn commit: r1073140 [2/4] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/cvejsontohtml.py security/vulnerabilities_13.html security/vulnerabilities_20.html security/vulnerabilities_22.html security/vulnerabilities_24.ht mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20210330 svn commit: r1073143 [2/3] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/ mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20210330 svn commit: r1073149 [4/13] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/ security/json/ mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20210330 svn commit: r1073149 [1/13] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/ security/json/ mailing-list
- [httpd-cvs] 20210606 svn commit: r1075470 [2/4] - in /websites/staging/httpd/trunk/content: ./ security/json/CVE-2020-13938.json security/vulnerabilities_13.html security/vulnerabilities_20.html security/vulnerabilities_22.html security/vulnerabiliti mailing-list