CVE-2024-53990: AsyncHttpClient (AHC) library's `CookieStore` replaces explicitly defined `Cookie`s

Should you act?

Critical and remotely reachable

No known exploitation yet, but it is network-reachable without credentials. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.

• Not in CISA KEV, but CISA’s SSVC assessment records a public proof-of-concept, so attack code exists.
• EPSS 0.7%, percentile 53: FIRST’s model estimates a 0.7% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 53% of all scored CVEs (moderate). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
• Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.
• Only applies if your dependency tree includes org.asynchttpclient:async-http-client (Maven) >= 2.1.0, < 2.12.4, fixed in 2.12.4; org.asynchttpclient:async-http-client (Maven) >= 3.0.0.Beta1, < 3.0.1, fixed in 3.0.1. Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

What it is

The AsyncHttpClient (AHC) library allows Java applications to easily execute HTTP requests and asynchronously process HTTP responses. When making any HTTP request, the automatically enabled and self-managed CookieStore (aka cookie jar) will silently replace explicitly defined Cookies with any that have the same name from the cookie jar. For services that operate with multiple users, this can result in one user's Cookie being used for another user's requests.

From the GitHub advisory

Summary

When making any HTTP request, the automatically enabled and self-managed CookieStore (aka cookie jar) will silently replace explicitly defined Cookies with any that have the same name from the cookie jar. For services that operate with multiple users, this can result in one user's Cookie being used for another user's requests.

Details

This issue is described without security warnings here:

https://github.com/AsyncHttpClient/async-http-client/issues/1964

Weakness type: CWE-287.

Product: org.asynchttpclient:async-http-client (Maven) · Assigned by: GitHub_M · Published: 2024-12-02

Affected and fixed versions

Severity scores

• Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
• Attack complexity: high (needs special conditions)
• Attack requirements: none
• Privileges required: none (no login)
• User interaction: none

CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.

Exploitation and urgency

• CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
• CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation poc, automatable no, technical impact partial.
• FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 0.72% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 53.

Timeline

• 2024-12-02 — CVE record published by GitHub_M
• 2024-12-02 — GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-mfj5-cf8g-g2fv published (critical)
• 2024-12-04 — CVE record last updated

Sources and references

Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.

Vulnerability records

1. GitHub Advisory GHSA-mfj5-cf8g-g2fv github.com
2. CVE.org record CVE-2024-53990 cve.org
3. NVD entry CVE-2024-53990 nvd.nist.gov

Other references from the CVE record and advisory

1. github.com github.com
2. github.com github.com
3. github.com github.com
4. github.com github.com
5. github.com github.com

Critical Maven advisories · Today’s Security Digest