WS-2026-0012
Published:July 17, 2026
Updated:July 17, 2026
OpenSSL TLS/DTLS handshake memory-bloat DoS ("HollowByte"): when reading a handshake message, tls_get_message_body() allocated the init_buf to the full message size declared in the 4-byte handshake header before the payload data arrived. A remote peer can send a tiny (~11-byte) message header claiming a very large size and then never send the body, forcing the server to reserve a large buffer and block. Repeated across connections with randomized sizes this fragments the heap and permanently bloats process memory until restart. Fixed by growing init_buf incrementally (in <=16KB chunks) as data actually arrives (new grow_init_buf() in ssl/statem/statem_lib.c). Reported by Okta Red Team; handled by OpenSSL as a bug/hardening fix. Fixed in 4.0.1 and backported to 3.6.3, 3.5.7, 3.4.6, and 3.0.21.
Affected Packages
openssl (CONDA):
Affected version(s) >=3.0.0 <3.0.21Fix Suggestion:
Update to version 3.0.21openssl (CONDA):
Affected version(s) >=3.5.0 <3.5.7Fix Suggestion:
Update to version 3.5.7openssl (CONDA):
Affected version(s) >=3.4.0 <3.4.6Fix Suggestion:
Update to version 3.4.6openssl (CONDA):
Affected version(s) >=3.6.0 <3.6.3Fix Suggestion:
Update to version 3.6.3https://github.com/openssl/openssl.git (GITHUB):
Affected version(s) >=openssl-3.4.0 <openssl-3.4.6Fix Suggestion:
Update to version openssl-3.4.6https://github.com/openssl/openssl.git (GITHUB):
Affected version(s) >=openssl-3.5.0 <openssl-3.5.7Fix Suggestion:
Update to version openssl-3.5.7https://github.com/openssl/openssl.git (GITHUB):
Affected version(s) >=openssl-3.0.0 <openssl-3.0.21Fix Suggestion:
Update to version openssl-3.0.21https://github.com/openssl/openssl.git (GITHUB):
Affected version(s) =openssl-4.0.0 <openssl-4.0.1Fix Suggestion:
Update to version openssl-4.0.1https://github.com/openssl/openssl.git (GITHUB):
Affected version(s) >=openssl-3.6.0 <openssl-3.6.3Fix Suggestion:
Update to version openssl-3.6.3Related Resources (1)
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Contact UsCVSS v4
Base Score:
8.7
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
LOW
Attack Requirements
NONE
Privileges Required
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Vulnerable System Confidentiality
NONE
Vulnerable System Integrity
NONE
Vulnerable System Availability
HIGH
Subsequent System Confidentiality
NONE
Subsequent System Integrity
NONE
Subsequent System Availability
NONE
CVSS v3
Base Score:
7.5
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
LOW
Privileges Required
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
NONE
Availability
HIGH