Description
ModSecurity is an open source, cross platform web application firewall (WAF) engine for Apache, IIS and Nginx. Versions prior to 2.9.10 contain a denial of service vulnerability similar to GHSA-859r-vvv8-rm8r/CVE-2025-47947. The `sanitiseArg` (and `sanitizeArg` - this is the same action but an alias) is vulnerable to adding an excessive number of arguments, thereby leading to denial of service. Version 2.9.10 fixes the issue. As a workaround, avoid using rules that contain the `sanitiseArg` (or `sanitizeArg`) action.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| owasp-modsecurity | ModSecurity | < 2.9.10 | — |
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 | modsecurity-apache | 2.9.10-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | modsecurity-apache | 2.9.10-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | modsecurity-apache | 2.9.7-1+deb12u1 | DSA-5940-1 |
| Debian 11 | modsecurity-apache | 2.9.3-3+deb11u4 | DLA-4212-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 25.10 | modsecurity-apache | No fix yet | — |
Show 6 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 24.04 LTS | modsecurity-apache | 2.9.7-1ubuntu0.24.04.1~esm1 | USN-7567-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 22.04 LTS | modsecurity-apache | 2.9.5-1ubuntu0.1~esm2 | USN-7567-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | modsecurity-apache | 2.9.3-1ubuntu0.1+esm1 | USN-7567-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | modsecurity-apache | 2.9.2-1ubuntu0.1~esm2 | USN-7567-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | modsecurity-apache | 2.9.0-1ubuntu0.1~esm2 | USN-7567-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | modsecurity-apache | 2.7.7-2ubuntu0.1~esm2 | USN-7567-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 9 | mod_security +1 | 2.9.6-2.el9_6.1 | RHSA-2025:12838 |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 9.4 EUS | mod_security +1 | 2.9.6-1.el9_4.2 | RHSA-2025:13670 |
| RHEL 9.2 E4S | mod_security +1 | 2.9.6-1.el9_2.2 | RHSA-2025:13775 |
| RHEL 9.0 E4S | mod_security +1 | 2.9.3-12.el9_0.2 | RHSA-2025:13716 |
Rocky Linux
Errata ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Linux 9 | mod_security | 2.9.6-2.el9_6.1 | RLSA-2025:12838 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP7 | apache2-mod_security2 | 2.9.4-150400.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:02028-1 |
| SLES 15 SP6 | apache2-mod_security2 | 2.9.4-150400.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:02028-1 |
| SLES 15 SP5 | apache2-mod_security2 | 2.9.4-150400.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:02028-1 |
| SLES 15 SP4 | apache2-mod_security2 | 2.9.4-150400.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:02028-1 |
| SLES 15 SP3 | apache2-mod_security2 | 2.9.2-150000.3.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:02029-1 |
Show 10 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP5 | apache2-mod_security2 | 2.8.0-7.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:02052-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP5 | apache2-mod_security2 | 2.9.4-150400.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:02028-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP4 | apache2-mod_security2 | 2.9.4-150400.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:02028-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP3 | apache2-mod_security2 | 2.9.2-150000.3.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:02029-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP5 | apache2-mod_security2 | 2.9.4-150400.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:02028-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP4 | apache2-mod_security2 | 2.9.4-150400.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:02028-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP3 | apache2-mod_security2 | 2.9.2-150000.3.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:02029-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.3 | apache2-mod_security2 | 2.9.4-150400.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:02028-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 | apache2-mod_security2 | 2.9.4-150400.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:02028-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 | apache2-mod_security2 | 2.9.2-150000.3.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:02029-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | apache2-mod_security2 | 2.9.10-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2025:15197-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | apache2-mod_security2 | 2.9.4-150400.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:02028-1 |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2023 | mod_security +1 | 2.9.10-1.amzn2023.0.1 | ALAS2023-2025-1026 |
| Amazon Linux 2 | mod_security +1 | 2.9.10-1.amzn2.0.1 | ALAS2-2025-2887 |
Azure Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux 3 | mod_security | No fix yet | — |
| Azure Linux 2 (CBL-Mariner) | mod_security | No fix yet | — |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 9 | mod_security +1 | 2.9.6-2.el9_6.1 | ELSA-2025-12838 |
Advisories 16
- RHSA-2025:13716 Red Hat Security Advisory: mod_security security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jul 12, 2026
- RHSA-2025:13775 Red Hat Security Advisory: mod_security security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jul 12, 2026
- RHSA-2025:13670 Red Hat Security Advisory: mod_security security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jul 12, 2026
- RHSA-2025:12838 Red Hat Security Advisory: mod_security security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jul 12, 2026
- USN-7567-1 modsecurity-apache vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 25, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2025:15197-1 apache2-mod_security2-2.9.10-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Mar 23, 2026
- DSA-5940-1 modsecurity-apache - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-4212-1 modsecurity-apache - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:02028-1 Security update for apache2-mod_security2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:02052-1 Security update for apache2-mod_security2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- WID-SEC-2025-1215 OWASP ModSecurity: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Denial of Service BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 4, 2025
- RLSA-2025:12838 Moderate: mod_security security update Rocky Linux Security Advisories · Oct 7, 2025
- ELSA-2025-12838 Moderate: mod_security security update (Oracle Linux 9) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Aug 5, 2025
- ALAS2023-2025-1026 Important: mod_security security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Jun 23, 2025
- SUSE-SU-2025:02029-1 Security update for apache2-mod_security2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jun 20, 2025
- ALAS2-2025-2887 Important: mod_security security update (Amazon Linux 2) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Jun 12, 2025
References
- https://github.com/owasp-modsecurity/ModSecurity/security/advisories/GHSA-f82j-8pp7-cw2w
- https://github.com/owasp-modsecurity/ModSecurity/security/advisories/GHSA-859r-vvv8-rm8r
- https://github.com/owasp-modsecurity/ModSecurity/commit/3a54ccea62d3f7151bb08cb78d60c5e90b53ca2e
- https://github.com/owasp-modsecurity/ModSecurity/wiki/Reference-Manual-(v2.x)#sanitisearg