Multiple Vulnerabilities Found in Apache Server

Multiple vulnerabilities in Apache HTTP Server could allow denial-of-service, authentication bypass, and server-side request forgery attacks on various Ubuntu LTS versions.

Ubuntu has issued a security notice detailing several vulnerabilities in the widely-used Apache HTTP Server. The flaws include two distinct memory leak issues in the HTTP/2 implementation that could lead to a denial-of-service (DoS) attack, potentially crashing the server. Another critical vulnerability is a server-side request forgery (SSRF) flaw in the mod_proxy component, which could allow an attacker to make the server perform unauthorized network requests. Additionally, the notice addresses an authentication bypass in the mod_isapi module and an HTTP response splitting issue specific to older Ubuntu versions.

These vulnerabilities pose a significant risk to organizations relying on Apache. A successful DoS attack could lead to service outages, while the SSRF and authentication bypass flaws could be exploited to access internal systems or gain unauthorized control. The issues affect multiple Ubuntu Long-Term Support (LTS) releases, including 18.04, 20.04, 22.04, and 23.10. The response splitting vulnerability impacts Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, an end-of-life version, highlighting the security risks of running unmaintained legacy systems. Administrators of affected servers are strongly advised to apply the available security updates to mitigate these threats.

Apache is one of the most widely used web servers globally. Vulnerabilities that allow for denial-of-service, authentication bypass, or server-side request forgery can lead to significant downtime, data breaches, and unauthorized access to internal infrastructure, impacting countless businesses and services.

A successful exploit could lead to website and application downtime, causing revenue loss and reputational damage. The authentication bypass and SSRF flaws pose a direct threat to sensitive company and customer data, potentially resulting in costly data breaches, regulatory fines, and loss of customer trust.