CVE-2022-42916

What it is

In curl before 7.86.0, the HSTS check could be bypassed to trick it into staying with HTTP. Using its HSTS support, curl can be instructed to use HTTPS directly (instead of using an insecure cleartext HTTP step) even when HTTP is provided in the URL. This mechanism could be bypassed if the host name in the given URL uses IDN characters that get replaced with ASCII counterparts as part of the IDN conversion, e.g., using the character UTF-8 U+3002 (IDEOGRAPHIC FULL STOP) instead of the common ASCII full stop of U+002E (.). The earliest affected version is 7.77.0 2021-05-26.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited over the network without logging in. High risk of data exposure.

Exploit odds

2.5% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2022-10-29 02:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-10-14 19:16 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 2.5% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 7.5 HIGH (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2022-10-29 02:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-10-14 19:16 UTC

Exploit probability

2.5% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-319 · Cleartext transmission

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Haxx Curl < 7.86.0
• Fedoraproject Fedora 35
• Fedoraproject Fedora 36
• Fedoraproject Fedora 37
• Apple macOS < 12.6.3
• Apple macOS < 13.2
• Splunk Universal Forwarder < 8.2.12
• Splunk Universal Forwarder < 9.0.6

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 7.5

Attack vector

Network

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

None

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

None

Availability

None

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2022-42916.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2022-42916. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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