Apache HTTP Server 2.4.69 has been released with fixes for 20 security vulnerabilities affecting multiple server components, including flaws that can cause denial of service, information disclosure, authentication problems and, in specific configurations, potential remote code execution.
The Apache HTTP Server Project describes 2.4.69 as the latest stable release in the 2.4.x branch and recommends it over previous versions. Administrators running older Apache HTTP Server releases should review the affected modules and plan an upgrade.
One of the most notable issues is CVE-2026-63292, a stack-based buffer overflow in mod_vhost_alias. Apache says a remote client can trigger the flaw using an oversized Host header when a server uses VirtualDocumentRoot with a hostname format specifier and has raised LimitRequestFieldSize above its default value.
Apache HTTP Server 2.4.69 Fixes 20 Security Vulnerabilities
Apache’s official vulnerability advisory lists 20 security issues fixed in version 2.4.69. The flaws affect different parts of the server and do not all apply to every deployment.
That distinction matters because several vulnerabilities require specific modules, features or non-default configurations to be enabled. An Apache installation that does not use the affected module may not be exposed to that particular issue, but administrators should still upgrade rather than relying only on configuration differences.
| CVE | Component | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| CVE-2026-42356 | CGI / internal redirects | Limited code execution in specific CGI configurations |
| CVE-2026-42528 | mod_dav | Server child process crash |
| CVE-2026-57941 | mod_http2 | Use-after-free / memory corruption |
| CVE-2026-59685 | Core path handling on Windows | Out-of-bounds write |
| CVE-2026-63292 | mod_vhost_alias | DoS or potential arbitrary code execution |
| CVE-2026-63718 | mod_proxy_uwsgi | Response smuggling |
| CVE-2026-73636 | mod_auth_digest | Digest authentication replay |
| CVE-2026-73637 | mod_auth_digest | Authentication-state corruption / DoS |
| CVE-2026-79768 | mod_userdir | Information disclosure |
| CVE-2026-93546 | mod_dav_fs | Crash and persistent property-database corruption |
The table highlights several of the more operationally relevant fixes. The Apache advisory contains the complete set of vulnerabilities and affected-version ranges.
CVE-2026-63292 Can Potentially Lead to Code Execution
CVE-2026-63292 is a Moderate-severity stack-based buffer overflow in mod_vhost_alias.
Apache says the vulnerability affects Apache HTTP Server versions through 2.4.68 on all platforms. A remote client may be able to trigger the bug using an HTTP request containing a Host header larger than 8192 bytes when VirtualDocumentRoot uses a hostname format specifier and LimitRequestFieldSize has been increased above its default.
Under those conditions, the flaw can cause denial of service and may potentially allow arbitrary code execution.
This does not mean every Apache server is remotely exploitable. The specific virtual-host configuration and request-header limit are important prerequisites, which is why administrators should verify actual configuration exposure rather than treating the CVE as a universal RCE.
CVE-2026-42356 Creates a Limited CGI Execution Risk
Another code-execution-related issue is CVE-2026-42356. Apache rates it Low because exploitation depends on a narrow set of server conditions.
The vulnerability can cause the target of certain internal redirects from CGI programs to be treated as CGI and executed when that target is already located inside a CGI-enabled directory and does not have another extension recognized by mod_mime.
The issue affects Apache HTTP Server versions 2.4.60 through 2.4.68 and is fixed in 2.4.69.
HTTP/2, WebDAV and Proxy Modules Also Receive Fixes
Several vulnerabilities addressed in this release affect optional but widely used Apache modules.
CVE-2026-57941 is a use-after-free issue in mod_http2. Memory-safety bugs in HTTP/2 processing are particularly relevant on internet-facing systems because requests are handled before application-level processing begins.
Multiple WebDAV-related vulnerabilities were also patched. CVE-2026-42528 affects shared lock handling in mod_dav, while CVE-2026-93546 can allow an authenticated WebDAV client with write access to crash worker processes and corrupt a directory’s property database.
Proxy configurations also receive security fixes. CVE-2026-63718 affects mod_proxy_uwsgi and involves inconsistent interpretation of Transfer-Encoding in crafted uWSGI responses, creating a response-smuggling condition.
Digest Authentication Has Two Additional Security Fixes
Apache 2.4.69 also fixes two vulnerabilities in mod_auth_digest.
CVE-2026-73636 can allow a man-in-the-middle attacker to replay captured Digest authentication credentials in configurations where AuthDigestNonceLifetime is set to zero.
CVE-2026-73637 is a use-after-free issue that can corrupt authentication state through concurrent Digest authentication requests when specific Digest authentication settings are enabled.
Both issues demonstrate why administrators should review not only the Apache version but also which authentication modules and non-default settings are active on production servers.
Who Should Upgrade
Apache recommends version 2.4.69 over all previous releases in the 2.4.x branch. The project’s official download page lists 2.4.69 as the current stable version.
- Upgrade internet-facing Apache HTTP Server installations to 2.4.69.
- Prioritize systems using mod_vhost_alias, CGI, WebDAV, HTTP/2, mod_proxy_uwsgi or Digest authentication.
- Review VirtualDocumentRoot and LimitRequestFieldSize settings for exposure to CVE-2026-63292.
- Check package-vendor repositories if Apache is installed through a Linux distribution, as vendor package versions and backported fixes may differ from upstream numbering.
- Restart or reload Apache as required by the operating system or package-maintenance procedure so patched binaries are actually running.
Administrators tracking newly disclosed server vulnerabilities can also follow the CyberUpdates365 CVE and enterprise vulnerability hub for related patch and exposure guidance.
No Active Exploitation Confirmed by Apache
Apache’s current security advisory does not state that these 2.4.69 vulnerabilities are being actively exploited in the wild.
That distinction is important. CVE-2026-63292 includes a potential code-execution outcome, but that alone does not make it an actively exploited zero-day. The documented configuration prerequisites also narrow the exposure compared with a universal unauthenticated RCE.
The practical response is straightforward: identify affected Apache deployments, review enabled modules and configuration conditions, and move to 2.4.69 or the corresponding patched package supplied by the operating-system vendor.
