CVE-2024-0419: Httpdx Denial of Service Vulnerability

CVE-2024-0419 Overview

CVE-2024-0419 is a denial-of-service vulnerability affecting Jasper httpdx web server versions up to 1.5.4. The flaw resides in the HTTP POST Request Handler component and can be triggered remotely without authentication or user interaction. An attacker who sends a crafted HTTP POST request can cause the service to stop responding, disrupting availability for any application or site hosted by the affected server. The issue is classified under CWE-404: Improper Resource Shutdown or Release. Exploit details have been publicly disclosed through VulDB entry VDB-250439, increasing the likelihood of opportunistic exploitation against exposed instances.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can crash or hang the httpdx service through a single malformed POST request, causing complete loss of HTTP service availability.

Affected Products

Jasper httpdx versions up to and including 1.5.4
Web applications and sites hosted on vulnerable httpdx deployments
Any internet-exposed installation of httpdx_project httpdx

Discovery Timeline

2024-01-11 - CVE-2024-0419 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-0419

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in the HTTP POST Request Handler of Jasper httpdx up to version 1.5.4. The handler fails to properly manage resources when processing certain POST requests, mapping to [CWE-404: Improper Resource Shutdown or Release]. Successful exploitation results in service disruption, affecting availability only — confidentiality and integrity remain intact. The attack is network-reachable, requires no privileges, and needs no user interaction, making any exposed httpdx endpoint a viable target. Public disclosure through VulDB and CXSecurity provides attackers with sufficient information to reproduce the condition. The EPSS score of 1.142% places this vulnerability above many comparable DoS issues in observed exploitation likelihood.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper resource shutdown or release within the POST request processing path. When httpdx receives a manipulated POST request, the server does not correctly release or recover the resources tied to that request, leading to a denial-of-service condition. Repeated or single triggering requests can exhaust the server's ability to continue handling legitimate traffic.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires only the ability to reach the httpdx listening port, typically TCP/80 or TCP/8080. An attacker crafts an HTTP POST request that exercises the vulnerable handler path. No authentication, session, or prior access to the host is required. Because the exploit has been disclosed publicly through CXSecurity WLB-2024010027 and VulDB entry 250439, automated scanners can easily incorporate the technique into broader probing campaigns.

No verified proof-of-concept code is published in the referenced advisories beyond the disclosure write-up. Technical reproduction details are available in the linked VulDB and CXSecurity references.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-0419

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected termination, crash, or unresponsiveness of the httpdx process following inbound HTTP POST traffic
Spikes in inbound POST requests from a single source toward httpdx listening ports
Application logs showing abrupt session terminations or missing response entries for received POST requests
Repeated service restart events for httpdx correlated with external network activity

Detection Strategies

Monitor HTTP server availability with active health checks against httpdx endpoints to detect outages quickly
Inspect web access logs for anomalous POST request patterns, including malformed headers, oversized bodies, or unusual Content-Length values
Deploy network intrusion detection signatures aligned to the disclosed exploit pattern referenced in VulDB CTIID 250439
Correlate process crash events on hosts running httpdx with inbound traffic captures to identify trigger requests

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward httpdx access and error logs to a centralized logging or SIEM platform for retention and correlation
Alert on repeated service restarts of httpdx within short time windows
Track inbound POST request volume per source IP and flag statistical outliers
Maintain packet captures on perimeter sensors fronting httpdx for post-incident analysis

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-0419

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict network exposure of httpdx to trusted networks using firewall rules or access control lists
Place httpdx behind a reverse proxy or web application firewall capable of validating and filtering POST requests
Rate-limit inbound HTTP POST traffic to reduce the impact of repeated trigger attempts
Audit all internet-facing assets for httpdx deployments and inventory versions up to 1.5.4

Patch Information

No vendor advisory or patched release has been published in the references associated with CVE-2024-0419. Operators of Jasper httpdx 1.5.4 and earlier should monitor the VulDB entry for VDB-250439 and the CXSecurity advisory for updates. Where no fix is available, migrating to an actively maintained HTTP server is the most reliable remediation path.

Workarounds

Migrate hosted content to an actively maintained web server such as nginx, Apache httpd, or Caddy
Terminate TLS and HTTP parsing on an upstream reverse proxy that performs strict request validation before forwarding to httpdx
Disable POST handling on httpdx if the hosted content does not require it
Apply automatic service restart with circuit-breaker thresholds to limit prolonged outages after a crash

bash

# Example: restrict httpdx exposure with iptables and front it with nginx
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -s 10.0.0.0/8 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP

# nginx reverse proxy with POST size and rate limiting
# /etc/nginx/conf.d/httpdx-proxy.conf
limit_req_zone $binary_remote_addr zone=postlimit:10m rate=5r/s;

server {
    listen 80;
    client_max_body_size 1m;

    location / {
        limit_req zone=postlimit burst=10 nodelay;
        limit_except GET HEAD POST { deny all; }
        proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:8080;  # httpdx bound to localhost
        proxy_read_timeout 10s;
    }
}