CVE-2026-1002: Vertx core Vert.x Web Static Handler Component Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-cphf-4846-3xx9
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CWE-444
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-1002 is a MODERATE vert.x web static handler component vulnerability (CWE-444: Inconsistent Interpretation of HTTP Requests ('HTTP Request/Response Smuggling')) affecting Vertx core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves vert.x web static handler component cache can be manipulated to deny the access to static files. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.5.24, 5.0.7.

CVE-2026-1002 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-1002
GHSA Identifier GHSA-cphf-4846-3xx9
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-444: Inconsistent Interpretation of HTTP Requests ('HTTP Request/Response Smuggling')
Affected Product Vertx core
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2026-1002

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Vertx core dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

io.vertx:vertx-core fixed: 4.5.24 
<dependency>
    <groupId>io.vertx</groupId>
    <artifactId>vertx-core</artifactId>
    <version>4.5.24</version>
</dependency>
io.vertx:vertx-core fixed: 5.0.7 
<dependency>
    <groupId>io.vertx</groupId>
    <artifactId>vertx-core</artifactId>
    <version>5.0.7</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=io.vertx

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2026-1002, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=io.vertx

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Vertx core in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 4.5.24), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=io.vertx 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-444: Inconsistent Interpretation of HTTP Requests ('HTTP Request/Response Smuggling'), where the product acts as an intermediary http agent (such as a proxy or firewall) in the data flow between two entities such as a client and server, but it does not interpret malformed http requests or responses in ways that are consistent with how the messages will be processed by those entities that are at the ultimate destination. In Vertx core, 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

The Vert.x Web static handler component cache can be manipulated to deny the access to static files served by the handler using specifically crafted request URI. The issue comes from an improper implementation of the C. rule of section 5.2.4 of RFC3986 and is fixed in Vert.x Core component (used by Vert.x Web): https://github.com/eclipse-vertx/vert.x/pull/5895 Steps to reproduce Given a file served by the static handler, craft an URI that introduces a string like bar%2F..%2F after the last / char to deny the access to the URI with an HTTP 404 response. For example https://example.com/foo/index.html can be denied with https://example.com/foo/bar%2F..%2Findex.html Mitgation Disabling Static Handler cache fixes the issue. StaticHandler staticHandler = StaticHandler.create().setCachingEnabled(false);

CVE-2026-1002 Affected Vertx core Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
4.5.245.0.7
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
io.vertx:vertx-core
maven/io.vertx/vertx-core
Maven
< 4.5.24
4.5.24
io.vertx:vertx-core
maven/io.vertx/vertx-core
Maven
≥ 5.0.0.CR1
< 5.0.7
5.0.7

References

NVD — CVE-2026-1002 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-1002
Vertx core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/vert-x3/vertx-web/issues/2836
Vertx core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/eclipse-vertx/vert.x/pull/5894
Vertx core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/eclipse-vertx/vert.x/pull/5895
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/eclipse-vertx/vert.x/commit/5b67f5d17788b2483d277c760f3f8154f9b2fed0
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/eclipse-vertx/vert.x/commit/d007e7b418543eb1567fe95cf20f5450a5c2d047
Vertx core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/eclipse-vertx/vert.x

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-1002?
CVE-2026-1002 is a security vulnerability in Vertx core involving Vert.x Web static handler component cache can be manipulated to deny the access to static files under CWE-444: Inconsistent Interpretation of HTTP Requests ('HTTP Request/Response Smuggling').
Which Vertx core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 4.5.24, 5.0.7 across affected packages: io.vertx:vertx-core.
What version fixes CVE-2026-1002?
Upgrading to 4.5.24, 5.0.7 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is vertx-core affected?
Yes, io.vertx:vertx-core is affected in releases prior to 4.5.24, 5.0.7. Upgrade your dependency to 4.5.24, 5.0.7 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-1002?
CVE-2026-1002 is classified under CWE-444: Inconsistent Interpretation of HTTP Requests ('HTTP Request/Response Smuggling') (The product acts as an intermediary HTTP agent (such as a proxy or firewall) in the data flow between two entities such as a client and server, but it does not interpret malformed HTTP requests or responses in ways that are consistent with how the messages will be processed by those entities that are at the ultimate destination.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2026-1002?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=io.vertx'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-cphf-4846-3xx9",
  "modified" : "2026-01-16T20:20:55Z",
  "published" : "2026-01-15T21:31:48Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-1002" ],
  "summary" : "Vert.x Web static handler component cache can be manipulated to deny the access to static files",
  "details" : "The Vert.x Web static handler component cache can be manipulated to deny the access to static files served by the handler using specifically crafted request URI.\n\n\nThe issue comes from an improper implementation of the C. rule of section 5.2.4 of RFC3986 and is fixed in Vert.x Core component (used by Vert.x Web):  https://github.com/eclipse-vertx/vert.x/pull/5895 \n\n\n\nSteps to reproduce\nGiven a file served by the static handler, craft an URI that introduces a string like bar%2F..%2F after the last / char to deny the access to the URI with an HTTP 404 response. For example https://example.com/foo/index.html can be denied with https://example.com/foo/bar%2F..%2Findex.html\n\nMitgation\nDisabling Static Handler cache fixes the issue.\n\n\n\nStaticHandler staticHandler = StaticHandler.create().setCachingEnabled(false);",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:L"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "io.vertx:vertx-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.5.24"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "io.vertx:vertx-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "5.0.0.CR1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "5.0.7"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-1002"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/vert-x3/vertx-web/issues/2836"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/eclipse-vertx/vert.x/pull/5894"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/eclipse-vertx/vert.x/pull/5895"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/eclipse-vertx/vert.x/commit/5b67f5d17788b2483d277c760f3f8154f9b2fed0"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/eclipse-vertx/vert.x/commit/d007e7b418543eb1567fe95cf20f5450a5c2d047"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/eclipse-vertx/vert.x"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-444" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-01-15T22:51:27Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-01-15T21:16:05Z"
  }
}