CVE-2026-40490: Async http client AsyncHttpClient Leaks Authorization Credentials To Vulnerability
MODERATECVE-2026-40490 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.8) asynchttpclient leaks authorization credentials to vulnerability (CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor) affecting Async http client libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves asynchttpclient leaks authorization credentials to untrusted domains on cross-origin redirects. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.0.9, 2.14.5.
CVE-2026-40490 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 6.8
The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N).
How to Fix CVE-2026-40490
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Async http client dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
<dependency>
<groupId>org.asynchttpclient</groupId>
<artifactId>async-http-client</artifactId>
<version>3.0.9</version>
</dependency><dependency>
<groupId>org.asynchttpclient</groupId>
<artifactId>async-http-client</artifactId>
<version>2.14.5</version>
</dependency>Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.asynchttpclientHow to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2026-40490, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:
mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.asynchttpclientAnalyze the terminal output to locate any version of Async http client in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 3.0.9), your application is affected.
Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.asynchttpclient command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.
Technical Details
Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor, where the product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information. In Async http client, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.
Source Advisory Statement
CVE-2026-40490 Affected Async http client Versions
2 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
org.asynchttpclient:async-http-client
|
Maven |
≥ 3.0.0.Beta1
< 3.0.9
|
3.0.9
|
|
org.asynchttpclient:async-http-client
|
Maven |
≥ 2.0.0
< 2.14.5
|
2.14.5
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-40490?
Which Async http client versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2026-40490?
Is async-http-client affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-40490?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-40490?
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2026-40490?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-cmxv-58fp-fm3g",
"modified" : "2026-04-24T20:06:16Z",
"published" : "2026-04-14T01:07:42Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-40490" ],
"summary" : "AsyncHttpClient leaks authorization credentials to untrusted domains on cross-origin redirects",
"details" : "### Impact\nWhen redirect following is enabled (followRedirect(true)), AsyncHttpClient forwards Authorization and Proxy-Authorization headers along with Realm credentials to arbitrary redirect targets regardless of domain, scheme, or port changes. This leaks credentials on cross-domain redirects and HTTPS-to-HTTP downgrades.\n\nAdditionally, even when stripAuthorizationOnRedirect is set to true, the Realm object containing plaintext credentials is still propagated to the redirect request, causing credential re-generation for Basic and Digest authentication schemes via NettyRequestFactory.\n\nAn attacker who controls a redirect target (via open redirect, DNS rebinding, or MITM on HTTP) can capture Bearer tokens, Basic auth credentials, or any other Authorization header value.\n\n### Patches\nFixed in version 3.0.9 or 2.14.5. Users should upgrade immediately.\n\nThe fix automatically strips Authorization and Proxy-Authorization headers and clears Realm credentials whenever a redirect crosses origin boundaries (different scheme, host, or port) or downgrades from HTTPS to HTTP.\n\n### Workarounds\nFor users unable to upgrade, set (stripAuthorizationOnRedirect(true)) in the client config and avoid using Realm-based authentication with redirect following enabled. Note that (stripAuthorizationOnRedirect(true)) alone is insufficient on versions prior to 3.0.9 or 2.14.5 because the Realm bypass still re-generates credentials.\n\nAlternatively, disable redirect following (followRedirect(false)) and handle redirects manually with origin validation.\n\n### References\n - Fix commit: https://github.com/AsyncHttpClient/async-http-client/commit/6b2fbb7f8",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Maven",
"name" : "org.asynchttpclient:async-http-client"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "3.0.0.Beta1"
}, {
"fixed" : "3.0.9"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Maven",
"name" : "org.asynchttpclient:async-http-client"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "2.0.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "2.14.5"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/AsyncHttpClient/async-http-client/security/advisories/GHSA-cmxv-58fp-fm3g"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-40490"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/AsyncHttpClient/async-http-client/commit/6b2fbb7f8"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/AsyncHttpClient/async-http-client/commit/ae557ad35246721c09dafb2976609cd0004e78ae"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/AsyncHttpClient/async-http-client"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/AsyncHttpClient/async-http-client/releases/tag/async-http-client-project-2.14.5"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/AsyncHttpClient/async-http-client/releases/tag/async-http-client-project-3.0.9"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-200" ],
"severity" : "MODERATE",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2026-04-14T01:07:42Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2026-04-18T02:16:11Z"
}
}