CVE-2026-28434CWE-200

cpp-httplib's default exception handler leaks e.what() to clients via EXCEPTION_WHAT response header

Medium · published March 4, 2026

CVSS v3.1
5.3
EPSS
0%
Percentile
36.7
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

cpp-httplib is a C++11 single-file header-only cross platform HTTP/HTTPS library. Prior to 0.35.0, when a request handler throws a C++ exception and the application has not registered a custom exception handler via set_exception_handler(), the library catches the exception and writes its message directly into the HTTP response as a header named EXCEPTION_WHAT. This header is sent to whoever made the request, with no authentication check and no special configuration required to trigger it. The behavior is on by default. A developer who does not know to opt in to set_exception_handler() will ship a server that leaks internal exception messages to any client. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.35.0.

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
5.3 · MEDIUM
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.00435 · 36.7th percentile
Weakness
CWE-200 · Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
Published
2026-03-04T19:34Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 04 MAR 19:34Z
    cpp-httplib's default exception handler leaks e.what() to clients via EXCEPTION_WHAT response header
    cvelistv5