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Modsecurity CVE-2025-54571

MEDIUM
Unchecked Return Value (CWE-252)
2025-08-06 security-advisories@github.com
6.9
CVSS 4.0 · GitHub Advisory
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A10:2025 - Mishandling of Exceptional Conditions
ASVS 5.0
V16 - Security Logging and Error Handling Return value checking
Impact

CVSS score of 6.9 (MEDIUM). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available. EPSS exploitation probability: 0.05%.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

This vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network. Successful exploitation could compromise the medium-severity affected system.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9).
Patch available 0.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Mar 28, 2026

ModSecurity is an open source, cross platform web application firewall (WAF) engine for Apache, IIS and Nginx. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Apply vendor patches when available. Implement network segmentation and monitoring as interim mitigations.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-252. ModSecurity is an open source, cross platform web application firewall (WAF) engine for Apache, IIS and Nginx. In versions 2.9.11 and below, an attacker can override the HTTP response’s Content-Type, which could lead to several issues depending on the HTTP scenario. For example, we have demonstrated the potential for XSS and arbitrary script source code disclosure in the latest version of mod_security2. This issue is fixed in version 2.9.12. Affected products include: Owasp Modsecurity. Version information: version 2.9.12..

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

GitHub Advisory PRIMARY 6.9 MEDIUM
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
SUSE 6.1 MEDIUM
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Red Hat 5.3 MEDIUM

Primary rating from GitHub Advisory.

CVSS VectorGitHub Advisory

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Requirements
None
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Vulnerable system: Confidentiality
Low
Vulnerable system: Integrity
None
Vulnerable system: Availability
None
Subsequent system: Confidentiality
None
Subsequent system: Integrity
None
Subsequent system: Availability
None

Lifecycle Timeline

3
Patch released
Mar 28, 2026 - 19:05 nvd
Patch available
PoC Detected
Nov 03, 2025 - 19:16 vuln.today
Public exploit code
CVE Published
Aug 06, 2025 - 00:15 nvd
MEDIUM 6.9

DescriptionGitHub Advisory

ModSecurity is an open source, cross platform web application firewall (WAF) engine for Apache, IIS and Nginx. In versions 2.9.11 and below, an attacker can override the HTTP response’s Content-Type, which could lead to several issues depending on the HTTP scenario. For example, we have demonstrated the potential for XSS and arbitrary script source code disclosure in the latest version of mod_security2. This issue is fixed in version 2.9.12.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

Organizations using ModSecurity should be aware of notable risk from CVE-2025-54571 rated CVSS 6.9. Exploitation could compromise the security of affected deployments. Proof-of-concept code is publicly available. A patch is available and should be applied during regular vulnerability management.

Business Impact: Moderate
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch. If patching is delayed: restrict network access and enable monitoring.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.1%
Top 83% exploitable
Exploit
POC
Public exploit code exists

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity MEDIUM
CISA KEV No
Public POC Yes
EPSS 0.1%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

Exploitation· derived
Poc
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
Yes

Priority Score

54
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +34
PoC: +20
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Cross-Site Scripting occurs when an application accepts untrusted data and sends it to a web browser without proper validation or encoding.

Affected Products (CPE)GitHub Advisory

cpe:2.3:a:owasp:modsecurity:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
CVE-2025-27110 HIGH POC
7.9 Feb 25

Libmodsecurity is one component of the ModSecurity v3 project. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.9), this vulnerability is rem

CVE-2025-48866 HIGH POC
7.5 Jun 02

ModSecurity versions prior to 2.9.10 contain a denial of service vulnerability in the `sanitiseArg` and `sanitizeArg` ac

CVE-2021-42717 HIGH POC
7.5 Dec 07

ModSecurity 3.x through 3.0.5 mishandles excessively nested JSON objects. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerabi

CVE-2020-15598 HIGH POC
7.5 Oct 06

Trustwave ModSecurity 3.x through 3.0.4 allows denial of service via a special request. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5),

CVE-2019-13464 HIGH POC
7.5 Jul 09

An issue was discovered in OWASP ModSecurity Core Rule Set (CRS) 3.0.2. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerabili

CVE-2012-4528 MEDIUM POC
5.0 Dec 28

The mod_security2 module before 2.7.0 for the Apache HTTP Server allows remote attackers to bypass rules, and deliver ar

CVE-2018-13065 MEDIUM POC
6.1 Jul 03

ModSecurity 3.0.0 has XSS via an onerror attribute of an IMG element. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.1), this vulnerabili

CVE-2013-2765 MEDIUM POC
5.0 Jul 15

The ModSecurity module before 2.7.4 for the Apache HTTP Server allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NUL

CVE-2019-11391 MEDIUM POC
5.3 Apr 21

An issue was discovered in OWASP ModSecurity Core Rule Set (CRS) through 3.1.0. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this v

CVE-2019-11390 MEDIUM POC
5.3 Apr 21

An issue was discovered in OWASP ModSecurity Core Rule Set (CRS) through 3.1.0. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this v

CVE-2019-11389 MEDIUM POC
5.3 Apr 21

An issue was discovered in OWASP ModSecurity Core Rule Set (CRS) through 3.1.0. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this v

CVE-2019-11388 MEDIUM POC
5.3 Apr 21

An issue was discovered in OWASP ModSecurity Core Rule Set (CRS) through 3.1.0. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this v

Vendor StatusVendor

SUSE

Severity: Medium
Product Status
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP6 SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Server Applications 15 SP6 SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6 SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 Fixed
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP7 SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Server Applications 15 SP7 SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP7 SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP7 Fixed
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.0 Fixed
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server LTSS Extended Security 12 SP5 Fixed
openSUSE Leap 15.6 Fixed

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