Apache Httpd 2.4.18 Exploit ✦ No Ads
| Attribute | Value | |-----------|-------| | Release Date | December 2015 | | HTTP/2 Support | Experimental (known bugs) | | End-of-Life Status | Officially EOL as of 2017 (unsupported) | | Common Distributions | Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (Xenial), Debian 9 (Stretch), RHEL 7.x (backported patches) |
Note: Some Linux distributions backport security fixes. Always verify
dpkg -l | grep apache2orrpm -qa | grep httpd. A self-compiled 2.4.18 is the most dangerous scenario.
If you want, I can:
(Invoking related search suggestions for further queries.)
Apache HTTP Server version 2.4.18, released in late 2015, contains several critical vulnerabilities that can lead to local privilege escalation, denial of service (DoS), and authentication bypass.
The most significant exploit for this specific version is CVE-2019-0211 (CARPE (DIEM)), which allows a low-privileged worker process to gain root access. 🛠️ Key Exploit: CVE-2019-0211 (CARPE (DIEM))
This is a local root privilege escalation vulnerability affecting Apache versions 2.4.17 through 2.4.38.
Vulnerability Type: Use-after-free in the MPM (Multi-Processing Module) prefork.
Vector: An attacker with the ability to execute PHP or CGI scripts (low-privileged user www-data) can escalate to root. Mechanism:
Apache uses a shared memory (SHM) area called all_buckets to manage worker processes.
During a "graceful" restart (apache2ctl graceful), the main process accesses this SHM to relocate "buckets." apache httpd 2.4.18 exploit
A malicious worker can overwrite a bucket structure in the SHM with a fake one.
When the root process restarts, it executes an arbitrary function pointer from the fake structure. Impact: Full system compromise.
Verification: Public exploits are available on the Exploit Database (EDB-ID 46676). ⚠️ Additional Vulnerabilities in 2.4.18
Aside from CARPE (DIEM), 2.4.18 is susceptible to several other known issues: HTTP/2 Denial of Service (DoS)
CVE-2016-0736: Flaws in the mod_http2 engine allow remote attackers to cause a DoS by consuming all available server threads through lengthy thread-blocking [16].
Mitigation: Disable HTTP/2 by removing h2 and h2c from the configuration or upgrade. X.509 Certificate Bypass
CVE-2016-4979: A bug in mod_http2 allows attackers to bypass X.509 client certificate authentication when using HTTP/2 [11]. Risk: Unauthorized access to protected resources. HTTP Digest Authentication Weakness
CVE-2018-1312: The nonce generation for Digest authentication was not sufficiently random.
Impact: Allows for replay attacks across a cluster of servers [12]. ✅ Defensive Recommendations
To secure a system running version 2.4.18, follow these steps: | Attribute | Value | |-----------|-------| | Release
Immediate Upgrade: Update to the latest stable version (currently 2.4.64 or higher) to patch over a decade of security flaws [0].
Disable Unused Modules: If you cannot upgrade immediately, disable mod_http2 if it is not strictly required to mitigate remote DoS risks.
Restrict Script Permissions: Ensure PHP/CGI scripts cannot write to sensitive directories to prevent the initial foothold needed for local privilege escalation.
Monitor Restarts: Watch for frequent "graceful" restarts in server logs, as these are often triggered by attackers to execute the CARPE (DIEM) payload. External Resources
Apache Security Reports (2.4.x): Official list of all patched vulnerabilities.
NIST NVD - CVE-2019-0211: Detailed technical breakdown of the privilege escalation flaw.
Apache HTTP Server version 2.4.18 is affected by several vulnerabilities, with CVE-2016-0736 CVE-2019-0211
being among the most notable. Below is a guide on how these vulnerabilities function and how to secure your server. 1. Cryptographic Padding Oracle (CVE-2016-0736) This vulnerability exists in the mod_session_crypto
module. It allows a remote attacker to decrypt and modify session data stored in a user's browser. Exploit-DB
: The module failed to verify the integrity of encrypted session data before decryption. Because it used CBC (Cipher Block Chaining) mode without authenticated encryption, it was susceptible to a Padding Oracle Attack Note: Some Linux distributions backport security fixes
: An attacker can gain unauthorized access by decrypting session cookies or forging new session data to impersonate users. Exploit Availability : Verified exploit scripts are available on platforms like Exploit-DB (EDB-ID: 40961) 2. Local Privilege Escalation (CVE-2019-0211) Often referred to as CARPE (DIEM)
, this flaw affects Apache 2.4.17 through 2.4.38 on Unix-based systems. Exploit-DB
: A vulnerability in how the "scoreboard" (shared memory used for worker communication) is handled. A low-privileged user (e.g.,
) who can execute code (via PHP or CGI) can manipulate the scoreboard. When the parent process performs a graceful restart, it can be tricked into executing arbitrary code with root privileges
: Full system compromise by escalating from a web user to the root user. Exploit Availability : A public proof-of-concept is available on Exploit-DB (EDB-ID: 46676) 3. HTTP Request Smuggling (CVE-2016-8743)
Apache 2.4.18 was overly "liberal" in how it handled whitespace in HTTP request headers. CVE Details Apache mod_session_crypto - Padding Oracle - Exploit-DB
Note on intent: This report is written for educational and defensive purposes. It analyzes the historical vulnerabilities associated with this specific version to help system administrators understand risks, patch management, and forensic indicators.
In the sprawling ecosystem of web servers, Apache HTTP Server (httpd) has long held its ground as the cornerstone of the internet. However, version 2.4.18, released in December 2015, has become a case study in how a single point release can harbor vulnerabilities that echo through security audits for years.
While a "perfect exploit" for 2.4.18 as a standalone piece of software is a moving target, this version is notoriously tied to two major vulnerability classes: HTTP Request Smuggling and Local Privilege Escalation. This article dissects the practical exploits associated with Apache 2.4.18, the conditions required to weaponize them, and why scanning for this specific version remains a high-priority task for red teams and bug bounty hunters.