CVE-2026-58180 in Traffic Server
Summary
by MITRE • 07/29/2026
The Apache Traffic Server txn_box plugin overflows the stack from attacker-controlled input.
This issue affects Apache Traffic Server: from 8.0.0 through 8.1.9, from 9.0.0 through 9.2.14, from 10.0.0 through 10.1.3.
Users are recommended to upgrade to version 9.2.15 or 10.1.4, which fix the issue.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2026
The Apache Traffic Server represents a widely deployed caching and proxy server solution that serves as a critical component in many enterprise and service provider infrastructures. The txn_box plugin within this system provides transaction-level monitoring and control capabilities for traffic management operations. This particular vulnerability manifests as a stack-based buffer overflow condition that occurs when the plugin processes attacker-controlled input data. The flaw exists in how the system handles incoming data within the transaction box functionality, creating an exploitable condition that could allow remote code execution or system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and boundary checking within the plugin's handling routines. When malicious data is passed to the txn_box plugin, the system fails to adequately validate the length or content of the input before processing it on the stack. This allows an attacker to provide input that exceeds the allocated buffer space, causing a stack overflow condition that can overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses and control data. The vulnerability affects multiple version ranges spanning from 8.0.0 through 8.1.9, 9.0.0 through 9.2.14, and 10.0.0 through 10.1.3, indicating a prolonged period during which this flaw remained unaddressed in the codebase.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable complete system compromise. An attacker who successfully exploits this stack overflow could execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Apache Traffic Server process, potentially leading to full system takeover or data exfiltration. This represents a critical security risk in environments where Apache Traffic Server serves as a primary traffic management component, particularly in scenarios involving untrusted input sources or public-facing deployments. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflows occurring in stack memory regions due to inadequate bounds checking.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to several ATT&CK techniques including TA0002 Execution through command injection and TA0005 Defense Evasion through process injection. The exploitation process would likely involve crafting malicious input data that triggers the buffer overflow condition when processed by the plugin. Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability as part of broader defensive strategies against remote code execution attacks targeting web infrastructure components. The recommended remediation involves upgrading to versions 9.2.15 or 10.1.4, which contain patches addressing the specific input validation issues within the txn_box plugin implementation.
The nature of this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management and input sanitization in server-side applications. Modern secure coding practices should emphasize bounds checking, input validation, and proper error handling mechanisms to prevent such conditions from occurring in production environments. Organizations utilizing Apache Traffic Server should implement immediate mitigation measures including network segmentation, monitoring for suspicious traffic patterns, and verification of patched deployments. This vulnerability serves as a reminder that even specialized plugins within robust systems can contain critical flaws that require ongoing security assessment and patch management processes.
The widespread impact of this vulnerability across multiple major version lines indicates that it likely resides in core architectural components rather than isolated plugin implementations. Such persistence suggests that similar issues may exist elsewhere within the software ecosystem, warranting comprehensive security audits of related functionality. The affected versions represent critical deployment targets for many organizations, making the timely application of patches essential for maintaining operational security and compliance requirements with industry standards such as nist 800-53 and iso 27001 frameworks.