# CVE-2026-73636: Apache HTTP Server: mod_auth_digest one-time-nonce replay attack

> A man-in-the-middle attacker can bypass authentication by replaying captured digest credentials when nonce lifetime is disabled.

- **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 1 Oct 2026
- **Updated:** 1 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** ALPINE-CVE-2026-73636, AZL-106758, BELL-CVE-2026-73636, BIT-apache-2026-73636, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-73636, ECHO-e525-7fd8-e0a9, GHSA-x3h4-7828-fv9v, MINI-jr8f-v969-m925, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2026-73636, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-73636

## What is CVE-2026-73636?

CVE-2026-73636 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Apache Http Server, published on 1 Oct 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Authentication bypass by capture-replay in mod_auth_digest in Apache Software Foundation Apache HTTP Server 2.4.x on all platforms allows a man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacker to replay captured digest authentication credentials via crafted requests that trigger garbage collection of the client's shared memory entry when AuthDigestNonceLifetime is set to 0.

Users are recommended to upgrade to version 2.4.69, which fixes this issue.

Weakness: CWE-294 (Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-73636?

1 open source package ship an affected version, including apache. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `apache` | Bitnami | From 2.4.0 | 2.4.69 |

Products: Apache Http Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-73636?

Upgrade apache to 2.4.69 or later.

## Is CVE-2026-73636 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-73636 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-2026-73636 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-73636 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Apache Http Server, published on 1 Oct 2026. 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-2026-73636 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- apache (Bitnami): affected from 2.4.0; fixed in 2.4.69

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-2026-73636/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-73636/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-73636
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-73636
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-73636

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-73636/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.