Remote arbitrary code execution affecting Axios
A critical vulnerability affecting Axios would allow an unauthenticated malicious actor to remotely execute arbitrary code on affected systems.
Description
Technical context and vulnerability details
Axios is a javascript library for easily making HTTP requests, both in the browser and in node.js applications. It is primarily used to communicate with APIs, simplifying sending and receiving data (often in JSON), error handling, query configuration, and authentication. It is one of the most used libraries, with 100 million downloads weekly. This solution is affected by a vulnerability labeled CVE-2026-40175 resulting from a defect in sanitizing HTTP headers combined with the library's native SSRF (Server-Side Request Forgery) functionality. Exploitation of this vulnerability would allow an unauthenticated attacker to remotely execute arbitrary code on affected systems or completely compromise a cloud infrastructure via bypassing the AWS IMDSv2 protection mechanism. It is classified critical with a severity score of 10.0 according to CVSS V3.1.
Potential Risks & Impact
Potential consequences upon exploitation
- Remote Arbitrary Code Execution;
- Compromise of system integrity;
- Breach of confidentiality and availability of data;
- Total compromise of cloud infrastructures;
Affected systems
Products, components and targeted versions
- Axios versions prior to version 1.15.0;
Recommended Remediations & Actions
Immediate actions and recommended mitigations
- Update Axios to its latest stable version;
Sources & External Links
Vendor security advisories and documentation
Advisory Specifications
CSIRT Emergency Response
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