CVE-2026-73547
CVE-2026-73547 — Envoy ext_authz: request `:path` pseudoheader dereferenced w/o null check
Envoy is an open source edge and service proxy designed for cloud-native applications. Prior to 1.36.10, 1.37.6, 1.38.4, and 1.39.1, Envoy's ext_authz filter assumes that a request contains a :path pseudoheader when applying query_parameters_to_set or query_parameters_to_remove from an authorization response. A path-less CONNECT request makes request_headers_->Path() return null, and Filter::onComplete dereferences that pointer while parsing the query string. An unauthenticated downstream client can crash the Envoy process when the filter and authorization response use query-parameter mutation. The relevant scope boundary is that the deployment must accept path-less CONNECT and configure ext_authz query-parameter mutation. This issue is fixed in versions 1.36.10, 1.37.6, 1.38.4, and 1.39.1.
Published Updated Sources: NVD, envoyproxy (CNA), GitHub, Red Hat (VEX), SOCRadar CTI
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the scoring sources call it.
Exploitation
Unreported
no source claims exploitation
EPSS
0%
ahead of 0% of scored CVEs
CVSS base
7.5
high
Remediation
The vendor's own words where we have them.
Upgrade envoy to a fixed release. Apply vendor patches per advisory and restrict external exposure of the affected component until patched.
Red Hat VEX · CVE-2026-73547
vendor_fix: See Red Hat OpenShift Service Mesh 3.0.15 documentation at https://docs.redhat.com/en/documentation/red_hat_openshift_service_mesh/3.0
vendor_fix: See Red Hat OpenShift Service Mesh 3.1.12 documentation at https://docs.redhat.com/en/documentation/red_hat_openshift_service_mesh/3.1
vendor_fix: See Red Hat OpenShift Service Mesh 3.2.9 documentation at https://docs.redhat.com/en/documentation/red_hat_openshift_service_mesh/3.2
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record's own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found.
- Identify exposed assets running affected vendor/product/version combinations.
- Prioritize based on EPSS, PoC availability, and external exposure.
- Search available logs for exploit probes, errors, authentication anomalies, or suspicious child processes matching the vulnerability class.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and version as the advisories word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| envoyproxy | envoy | < 1.36.10 | Vulnerable |
| envoyproxy | envoy | >= 1.37.0, < 1.37.6 | Vulnerable |
| envoyproxy | envoy | >= 1.38.0, < 1.38.4 | Vulnerable |
| envoyproxy | envoy | >= 1.39.0, < 1.39.1 | Vulnerable |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Availability
High
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Scope
Unchanged
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Vector
Network
Privileges Req
None
User Interaction
None
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5 | CVSS 3.1 | high | 3.9 | 3.6 | GitHub (CNA), envoyproxy (CNA), Red Hat (VEX) |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
What this weakness leads to
MITRE's own consequences and mitigations for the weakness class — the authority's wording, not guidance derived from the CVSS vector.
CWE-476 · NULL Pointer Dereference
- DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
- Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
- Read Memory
- Modify Memory
Mitigation: If all pointers that could have been modified are sanity-checked previous to use, nearly all NULL pointer dereferences can be prevented.
CWE-20 · Improper Input Validation
- DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
- DoS: Resource Consumption (CPU)
- DoS: Resource Consumption (Memory)
- Read Memory
Mitigation: Consider using language-theoretic security (LangSec) techniques that characterize inputs using a formal language and build recognizers for that language. This effectively requires parsing to be a distinct layer that effectively enforces a boundary between raw input and internal data representations, instead of allowing parser code to be scattered throughout the program, where it could be subject to errors or inconsistencies that create weaknesses. [REF-1109] [REF-1110] [REF-1111]
Weakness & attack patterns
- CWE-20Improper Input Validation
- CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
Attack patterns reported against this CVE. The ATT&CK techniques below are inferred from its weakness class.
- T1562.003Impair Defenses: Impair Command History Logging
- T1574.006Hijack Execution Flow: Dynamic Linker Hijacking
- T1574.007Hijack Execution Flow: Path Interception by PATH Environment Variable
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not rules we have tested.
- Prioritize edge telemetry for network-reachable envoy.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first — with the readings a source repeats on a schedule counted underneath rather than listed.
- 2026
Added · CVSS 3.1 7.5 (AV:N)
Sep 21, 2026 · NVD
Initial · CVE published
Sep 21, 2026 · NVD
CVE published by MITRE.
Sep 21, 2026 · SOCRadar CTI
References
18 on the record
- github.com/envoyproxy/envoy/commit/064af2e61d0d1c421490d9e3e6e643c5d117ffe4
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, Mitre
- github.com/envoyproxy/envoy/commit/5f3b8e9b2b8a787a63202d35bb38820f3e9271fe
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, Mitre
- github.com/envoyproxy/envoy/commit/838f8ffd9d7b5217682a22ee33470d4c7afb7e98
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, Mitre
- github.com/envoyproxy/envoy/commit/c3170d7c747e51bb8254378ea89afc03d3e71929
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, Mitre
- github.com/envoyproxy/envoy/releases/tag/v1.36.10
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, Mitre
- github.com/envoyproxy/envoy/releases/tag/v1.37.6
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, Mitre
- github.com/envoyproxy/envoy/releases/tag/v1.38.4
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, Mitre
- github.com/envoyproxy/envoy/releases/tag/v1.39.1
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, Mitre
Elsewhere on this site
- envoyproxyevery CVE for this vendor
- Memory Corruptionsame class
- CWE-20other pages naming this weakness
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record1
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-73547 is Envoy ext_authz: request `:path` pseudoheader dereferenced w/o null check, a high vulnerability affecting envoy from envoyproxy. The current evidence does not list it in CISA KEV, and the exploit status is: Active exploitation is not confirmed from current sources for CVE-2026-73547. Public exploit evidence is: A public PoC is not confirmed from current sources for CVE-2026-73547. The affected-version evidence is listed in the key facts and affected products tables. Defenders should first verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run those versions, then apply vendor patches or mitigations, restrict reachable attack surface, and preserve logs for detection review. CVSS 7.5 describes technical severity, while EPSS 0% helps estimate near-term exploit likelihood; neither replaces asset context. Unknown fields should remain explicit in tickets, and threat actor, IOC, victimology, or payload claims should not be added unless a cited source supports them. Monitor CISA KEV, vendor advisories, NVD changes, public PoC repositories, and internal telemetry for update triggers.