# CVE-2015-0253: Null dereference in n/a

> Remote attackers can crash Apache HTTP Server by sending malformed requests if specific error handling and filter configurations are enabled.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.0 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 20 Jul 2015
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4g3x-jprw-h46m

## What is CVE-2015-0253?

CVE-2015-0253 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Apache Http Server, published on 20 Jul 2015. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The read_request_line function in server/protocol.c in the Apache HTTP Server 2.4.12 does not initialize the protocol structure member, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and process crash) by sending a request that lacks a method to an installation that enables the INCLUDES filter and has an ErrorDocument 400 directive specifying a local URI.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2015-0253?

It affects 5 products.


Products: Apache Http Server, Apple Mac Os X, Apple Mac Os X Server, Oracle Linux, Oracle Solaris.

## How do I fix CVE-2015-0253?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2015-0253 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2015-0253 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apache Http Server

- [CVE-2021-42013](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42013/): Apache HTTP Server Path Traversal (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-38475](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-38475/): Apache HTTP Server Improper Escaping of Output (critical 9.1, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-40438](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40438/): Apache HTTP Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) (critical 9.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-0211](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-0211/): Apache HTTP Server Privilege Escalation (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-41773](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-41773/): Apache HTTP Server Path Traversal (high 7.5, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2015-0253 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2015-0253 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Apache Http Server, published on 20 Jul 2015. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2015-0253 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Apache Http Server. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-0253/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-0253/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2015-0253
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-0253
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2015-0253

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-0253/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.