CVE-2026-55971 — Apache Thrift: C++ ZLIB heap buffer overflow (write) in THeaderTransport::untransform()
Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability in Apache Thrift C++ bindings. This issue affects Apache Thrift: before 0.24.0. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 0.24.0, which fixes the issue.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- Technical severity (critical)+10
- Automatable exploitation (SSVC)+3
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
CISA SSVC assessment CISA
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Apache Software Foundation Thrift).
- The attack is network-based and needs no privileges: restrict exposure (ACLs, VPN, WAF) until patched.
- No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
- Search available logs for exploit probes matching the vulnerability class (memory corruption), errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apache Software Foundation | Thrift | < 0.24.0 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Apache Software Foundation | Thrift | < 0.24.0 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.3 | CVSS 4.0 | Critical | — | — | security@apache.org via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 9.3 | CVSS 4.0 | Critical | — | — | apache via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| 9.8 | CVSS 3.1 | Critical | 3.9 | 5.9 | nvd@nist.gov via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H (score shown at the top: nvd@nist.gov) Weakness MITRE
Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Prioritize edge telemetry for the network-reachable component (proxy, WAF, IDS/IPS).
- Correlate service crashes/restarts with inbound traffic; repeated crashes may indicate attempts.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · apache software foundation/apache thrift
- SSVC assessment updated
- Record published
- CVSS changed · 9.8
- Source status changed · → Analyzed
- Record created in this database
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 15, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026
References
3 on the record
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- High CVE-2026-94651 Apache Thrift: Java `TSaslNonblockingServer` `Computation.run` orphans a connection on a pre-auth parse error 13d
- High CVE-2026-85494 Improper handling of length parameter inconsistency, Uncaught exception, Inefficient Algorithmic... 13d
- Medium CVE-2026-66053 Apache Thrift: Python TSSLSocket Hostname Matcher Import Jul 27, 2026
- Critical CVE-2026-58023 Apache Thrift: c_glib heap out-of-bounds read in transport leftover-bytes path Jul 27, 2026
- High CVE-2026-58389 Apache Thrift: Rust binary protocol non-strict path missing string size limit Jul 27, 2026
- Critical CVE-2026-58662 Apache Thrift: C++ THeaderTransport::readString() info-header length bounds bypass Jul 27, 2026
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 FIRST EPSS score.
- No fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
- 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 record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-55971 is "Apache Thrift: C++ ZLIB heap buffer overflow (write) in THeaderTransport::untransform()", rated Critical. It affects Thrift (Apache Software Foundation); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 9.8 describes technical severity. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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