CVE-2024-40686: Software Security Vulnerability Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-hg82-qqjw-ch32
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CVSS 5.4
CWE-644
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2024-40686 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.4) security vulnerability vulnerability (CWE-644: Improper Neutralization of HTTP Headers for Scripting Syntax) affecting Software libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The weakness occurs when the product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes web scripting syntax in http headers that can be used by web browser components that can process raw headers, such as flash.. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2024-40686 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2024-40686
GHSA Identifier GHSA-hg82-qqjw-ch32
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.4
CWE Classification CWE-644: Improper Neutralization of HTTP Headers for Scripting Syntax
Affected Product Software
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.4

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2024-40686

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

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

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2024-40686, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree

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

Note: The mvn dependency:tree 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-644: Improper Neutralization of HTTP Headers for Scripting Syntax, where the product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes web scripting syntax in http headers that can be used by web browser components that can process raw headers, such as flash. In Software, 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

IBM SmartCloud Analytics - Log Analysis 1.3.7.0, 1.3.7.1, 1.3.7.2, 1.3.8.0, 1.3.8.1, and 1.3.8.2 is vulnerable to HTTP header injection, caused by improper validation of input by the HOST headers. This could allow an attacker to conduct various attacks against the vulnerable system, including cross-site scripting, cache poisoning or session hijacking.

References

NVD — CVE-2024-40686 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-40686
www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/... WEB
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7240270

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2024-40686?
CVE-2024-40686 is a security vulnerability in Software classified as a security vulnerability vulnerability under CWE-644: Improper Neutralization of HTTP Headers for Scripting Syntax.
Which Software versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches.
What version fixes CVE-2024-40686?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2024-40686?
CVE-2024-40686 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.4 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2024-40686?
CVE-2024-40686 is classified under CWE-644: Improper Neutralization of HTTP Headers for Scripting Syntax (The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes web scripting syntax in HTTP headers that can be used by web browser components that can process raw headers, such as Flash.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2024-40686?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree'. 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-hg82-qqjw-ch32",
  "modified" : "2025-07-23T12:30:25Z",
  "published" : "2025-07-23T12:30:25Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2024-40686" ],
  "details" : "IBM SmartCloud Analytics - Log Analysis 1.3.7.0, 1.3.7.1, 1.3.7.2, 1.3.8.0, 1.3.8.1, and 1.3.8.2 is vulnerable to HTTP header injection, caused by improper validation of input by the HOST headers. This could allow an attacker to conduct various attacks against the vulnerable system, including cross-site scripting, cache poisoning or session hijacking.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-40686"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7240270"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-644" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : false,
    "github_reviewed_at" : null,
    "nvd_published_at" : "2025-07-23T12:15:26Z"
  }
}