Undici has an unbounded decompression chain in HTTP responses on Node.js Fetch API via Content-Encoding leads to resource exhaustion
Impact
The fetch() API supports chained HTTP encoding algorithms for response content according to RFC 9110 (e.g., Content-Encoding: gzip, br). This is also supported by the undici decompress interceptor.
However, the number of links in the decompression chain is unbounded and the default maxHeaderSize allows a malicious server to insert thousands compression steps leading to high CPU usage and excessive memory allocation.
Patches
Upgrade to 7.18.2 or 6.23.0.
Workarounds
It is possible to apply an undici interceptor and filter long Content-Encoding sequences manually.
References
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm package | undici | >= 7.0.0, < 7.18.2, < 6.23.0 | 7.18.2, 6.23.0 |
References
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-770- Platform
- npm
- Package
undici- Disclosed
- 14.01.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-g9mf-h72j-4rw9 - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: undici
All published vulnerabilities of this package (npm package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 46
- First → latest
- 06.2022 09.2026
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- High 13
- Medium 21
- Low 12
Disclosures per year
- 2022: 5
- 2023: 3
- 2024: 5
- 2025: 2
- 2026: 31
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Undici has an unbounded decompression chain in HTTP responses on Node.js Fetch API via Content-Encoding leads to resource exhaustion this entry
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