undici WebSocket client vulnerable to denial of service via cumulative fragment bypass
Impact
The undici WebSocket client enforces maxPayloadSize per-frame but does not enforce the cumulative size of fragmented uncompressed messages. A malicious WebSocket server can stream many small fragments that each pass per-frame validation but collectively exceed the configured limit, causing unbounded memory growth in the client process. The result is memory exhaustion and a denial of service.
Affected applications are those using the undici WebSocket client (new WebSocket(...)) that can be induced to connect to an attacker-controlled or compromised WebSocket endpoint.
This is a regression specific to undici 8.1.0. The 6.25.0 line shipped the equivalent cumulative check from the start and is unaffected. The 7.x line never had the maxPayloadSize feature and is also unaffected.
Patches
Upgrade to undici >= 8.5.0.
Workarounds
No workaround is available. The fix must be applied through an upgrade.
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm package | undici | >= 8.0.0, < 8.5.0 | 8.5.0 |
References
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-400, CWE-770- Platform
- npm
- Package
undici- Disclosed
- 18.06.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-38rv-x7px-6hhq - 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 WebSocket client vulnerable to denial of service via cumulative fragment bypass this entry
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