CVE-2026-40395
CWE-770Published: April 12, 2026· Updated: Apr 17, 2026
Official Description
Varnish Enterprise before 6.0.16r12 allows a "workspace overflow" denial of service (daemon panic) for shared VCL. The headerplus.write_req0() function from vmod_headerplus updates the underlying req0, which is normally the original read-only request from which req is derived (readable and writable from VCL). This is useful in the active VCL, after amending req, to prepare a refined req0 before switching to a different VCL with the return (vcl(<label>)) action. This is for example how the Varnish Controller operates shared VCL deployments. If the amended req contained too many header fields for req0, this would have resulted in a workspace overflow that would in turn trigger a panic and crash the Varnish Enterprise server. This could be used as a Denial of Service attack vector by malicious clients.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-40395 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.
The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.
A successful exploit results in availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 7.5.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
Official Patches & Advisories
All References (1)
Quick Facts
Related CVEs (CWE-770)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2026-40395 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts