CVE-2026-28434
cpp-httplib's default exception handler leaks e.what() to clients via EXCEPTION_WHAT response header
- State
- Published
- Severity
- 5.3 Medium
- Published
- Mar 4, 2026
- Updated
- Mar 4, 2026
- Reserved
- Feb 27, 2026
Description
cpp-httplib is a C++11 single-file header-only cross platform HTTP/HTTPS library. Prior to 0.35.0, when a request handler throws a C++ exception and the application has not registered a custom exception handler via set_exception_handler(), the library catches the exception and writes its message directly into the HTTP response as a header named EXCEPTION_WHAT. This header is sent to whoever made the request, with no authentication check and no special configuration required to trigger it. The behavior is on by default. A developer who does not know to opt in to set_exception_handler() will ship a server that leaks internal exception messages to any client. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.35.0.
Scores
| CVSS | Score | Vector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | 5.3 Medium | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N | GitHub_M |
Weaknesses
- CWE-200 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
Affected Products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
cpp-httplibyhirose |
|
References
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