CVE-2026-88829: busybox HTTP Request/Response Smuggling

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2026-88829 is a high (CVSS 7.2) HTTP Request/Response Smuggling vulnerability in busybox. EPSS estimates a 0.32% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 23% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 14-10-2026
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 15-10-2026
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

A flaw was found in BusyBox httpd's reverse proxy feature. When the proxy is configured to forward requests matching a URL prefix to a backend server, only the first HTTP request on a TCP connection has its path rewritten. An attacker can send a pipelined second request that is relayed verbatim to the backend, bypassing the configured path restrictions. This allows accessing arbitrary paths on the backend server that were not intended to be exposed through the proxy.

• CWE-444Inconsistent 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.