# GHSA-6x33-pw7p-hmpq: Denial of Service in http-proxy

> An attacker can crash the proxy server by sending a long HTTP body if the server sets headers, causing a denial of service.

- **Severity:** Not scored
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 4 Sep 2020

## What is GHSA-6x33-pw7p-hmpq?

GHSA-6x33-pw7p-hmpq is a denial of service vulnerability in http-proxy, published on 4 Sep 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Versions of `http-proxy` prior to 1.18.1 are vulnerable to Denial of Service. An HTTP request with a long body triggers an `ERR_HTTP_HEADERS_SENT` unhandled exception that crashes the proxy server. This is only possible when the proxy server sets headers in the proxy request using the `proxyReq.setHeader` function.   

For a proxy server running on `http://localhost:3000`, the following curl request triggers the unhandled exception:  
```curl -XPOST http://localhost:3000 -d "$(python -c 'print("x"*1025)')"```

## Recommendation

Upgrade to version 1.18.1 or later

## Which versions are affected by GHSA-6x33-pw7p-hmpq?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including http-proxy.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `http-proxy` | npm | All versions | 1.18.1 |
| `http-proxy` | npm | All versions | 1.18.1 |

## How do I fix GHSA-6x33-pw7p-hmpq?

Upgrade http-proxy to 1.18.1 or later.

## Is GHSA-6x33-pw7p-hmpq being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of GHSA-6x33-pw7p-hmpq in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for GHSA-6x33-pw7p-hmpq and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: GHSA-6x33-pw7p-hmpq is a denial of service vulnerability in http-proxy, published on 4 Sep 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of GHSA-6x33-pw7p-hmpq in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- http-proxy (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 1.18.1
- http-proxy (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 1.18.1

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/GHSA-6x33-pw7p-hmpq/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/GHSA-6x33-pw7p-hmpq/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-6x33-pw7p-hmpq

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/GHSA-6x33-pw7p-hmpq/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.