OWASP ModSecurity up to 2.9.9 sanitiseArg/sanitizeArg excessive platform resource consumption within a loop

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.3$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in OWASP ModSecurity up to 2.9.9. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality. This manipulation of the argument sanitiseArg/sanitizeArg causes excessive platform resource consumption within a loop. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2025-48866. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. There is no exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in OWASP ModSecurity up to 2.9.9. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown function. The manipulation of the argument sanitiseArg/sanitizeArg with an unknown input leads to a excessive platform resource consumption within a loop vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-1050. The product has a loop body or loop condition that contains a control element that directly or indirectly consumes platform resources, e.g. messaging, sessions, locks, or file descriptors. As an impact it is known to affect availability. The summary by CVE is:

ModSecurity is an open source, cross platform web application firewall (WAF) engine for Apache, IIS and Nginx. Versions prior to 2.9.10 contain a denial of service vulnerability similar to GHSA-859r-vvv8-rm8r/CVE-2025-47947. The `sanitiseArg` (and `sanitizeArg` - this is the same action but an alias) is vulnerable to adding an excessive number of arguments, thereby leading to denial of service. Version 2.9.10 fixes the issue. As a workaround, avoid using rules that contain the `sanitiseArg` (or `sanitizeArg`) action.

The advisory is shared at github.com. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-48866 since 05/27/2025. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploitation doesn't need any form of authentication. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 237954 (Debian dsa-5940 : libapache2-mod-security2 - security update), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 2.9.10 eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (237954) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1215). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Affected

  • Debian Linux
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • OWASP ModSecurity

Productinfo

Vendor

Name

Version

License

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.3

VulDB Base Score: 7.5
VulDB Temp Score: 7.2
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 7.5
CNA Vector (GitHub_M): 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Excessive platform resource consumption within a loop
CWE: CWE-1050 / CWE-400 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 237954
Nessus Name: Debian dsa-5940 : libapache2-mod-security2 - security update

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: ModSecurity 2.9.10

Timelineinfo

05/27/2025 🔍
06/02/2025 +6 days 🔍
06/02/2025 +0 days 🔍
08/05/2025 +64 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: github.com
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-48866 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-48866
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-310849
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1215 - OWASP ModSecurity: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Denial of Service

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20130913

Entryinfo

Created: 06/02/2025 18:06
Updated: 08/05/2025 15:35
Changes: 06/02/2025 18:06 (63), 06/09/2025 10:33 (2), 07/03/2025 05:31 (1), 08/05/2025 15:35 (7)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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