CVE-2026-58470 in wget
Summary
by MITRE • 07/07/2026
GNU Wget through 1.25.0, fixed in commit 43d3ba9, contains an integer overflow vulnerability in the parse_content_range() function within src/http.c that allows server-controlled values to cause signed integer arithmetic to overflow. Attackers can supply malicious Content-Range header values to trigger undefined behavior and download desynchronization in the affected client.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2026
The vulnerability under discussion represents a critical integer overflow flaw affecting GNU Wget versions prior to 1.25.1, specifically within the parse_content_range() function located in src/http.c. This issue stems from improper handling of server-controlled input through HTTP Content-Range headers, creating a scenario where signed integer arithmetic operations can overflow when processing maliciously crafted values. The vulnerability manifests when wget processes HTTP responses containing specially constructed Content-Range headers that exceed the maximum limits of signed integer data types.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the Content-Range header field in HTTP responses, which wget uses to parse and handle partial content downloads. When the server provides malicious values that cause signed integer overflow during calculation of content range boundaries, the application enters an undefined state where memory access patterns become unpredictable. This overflow condition can lead to buffer overflows, memory corruption, or other exploitable conditions depending on how the overflowed values are subsequently processed within wget's download handling logic.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to users who rely on wget for downloading content from untrusted sources. An attacker controlling a web server can craft Content-Range headers that trigger the integer overflow, potentially causing wget to misbehave during downloads and resulting in desynchronization between expected and actual file contents. The impact extends beyond simple download failures as the undefined behavior could enable more sophisticated attacks depending on how the vulnerable application handles the corrupted state following overflow conditions.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which specifically addresses issues where integer arithmetic operations produce results that exceed the maximum value representable by the data type. This classification emphasizes the fundamental nature of the flaw as a mathematical operation that fails to account for boundary conditions properly. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability could map to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage, particularly when attackers leverage compromised servers to deliver malicious content ranges that exploit client-side applications like wget.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include upgrading to GNU Wget version 1.25.1 or later where the integer overflow has been addressed through proper input validation and boundary checking in the parse_content_range() function. Administrators should also implement network-level controls such as Content Security Policies that restrict potentially malicious HTTP headers, though these measures are secondary to the core application fix. Additionally, users should avoid downloading content from untrusted sources when possible and consider implementing additional verification mechanisms for downloaded files to detect potential corruption caused by this vulnerability. The fix implemented in commit 43d3ba9 demonstrates proper handling of integer overflow conditions through explicit bounds checking and validation of server-provided Content-Range values before arithmetic operations are performed, preventing the overflow condition from occurring in the first place.