# CVE-2019-5645: Rapid7 Metasploit HTTP Handler Denial of Service

> An attacker can cause denial of service in Metasploit HTTP handlers by sending crafted requests that trigger resource exhaustion or block new sessions.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 1 Sep 2020
- **Updated:** 23 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-wp3v-g466-8g44

## What is CVE-2019-5645?

CVE-2019-5645 is a high-severity denial of service vulnerability in Rapid7 Metasploit Framework, published on 1 Sep 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

By sending a specially crafted HTTP GET request to a listening Rapid7 Metasploit HTTP handler, an attacker can register an arbitrary regular expression. When evaluated, this malicious handler can either prevent new HTTP handler sessions from being established, or cause a resource exhaustion on the Metasploit server.

Weakness: CWE-400 (Uncontrolled Resource Consumption)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-5645?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Rapid7 Metasploit.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-5645?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-5645 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2019-5645 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2019-5645 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Metasploit HTTP(S) handler DoS (metasploit)

## Other vulnerabilities in Rapid7 Metasploit Framework

- [CVE-2020-7385](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7385/): Metasploit Framework 'drb_remote_codeexec' code execution (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2020-7377](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7377/): Rapid7 Metasploit Framework Relative Path Traversal in telpho10_credential_dump module (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2017-5235](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-5235/): Other in Metasploit Pro (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2019-5624](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5624/): Rapid7 Metasploit Framework Zip Import Directory Traversal (high 7.4)
- [CVE-2020-7376](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7376/): Rapid7 Metasploit Framework Relative Path Traversal in enum_osx module (high 7.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-5645 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-5645 is a high-severity denial of service vulnerability in Rapid7 Metasploit Framework, published on 1 Sep 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2019-5645 exists.

Affected product: Rapid7 Metasploit Framework. 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-2019-5645/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5645/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-5645
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-5645
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-5645

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5645/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.