The http_request_split_value function in request.c in lighttpd before 1.4.32 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via a request with a header containing an empty token, as demonstrated using the "Connection: TE,,Keep-Alive" header.
CVE-2012-5533
- No confirmed exploitation signals yet
No vendor fix yet — apply a workaround or compensating control (WAF / firewall / segmentation) and watch for a patch.
- CVSS v3
- —
- EG Score
- 0.0(none)
- EPSS
- 95.6%
- KEV
- Not listed
Published
November 24, 2012
Last Modified
April 29, 2026
References (32)
- secalert@redhathttp://download.lighttpd.net/lighttpd/security/lighttpd-1.4.31_fix_connection_header_dos.patch
- secalert@redhathttp://download.lighttpd.net/lighttpd/security/lighttpd_sa_2012_01.txt
- secalert@redhathttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2012-11/msg00044.html
- secalert@redhathttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2014-01/msg00051.html
- secalert@redhathttp://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=141576815022399&w=2
- secalert@redhathttp://osvdb.org/87623
- secalert@redhathttp://packetstormsecurity.org/files/118282/Simple-Lighttpd-1.4.31-Denial-Of-Service.html
- secalert@redhathttp://secunia.com/advisories/51268
- secalert@redhathttp://secunia.com/advisories/51298
- secalert@redhathttp://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/22902
- secalert@redhathttp://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2013:100
- secalert@redhathttp://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/11/21/1
- secalert@redhathttp://www.securityfocus.com/bid/56619
- secalert@redhathttp://www.securitytracker.com/id?1027802
- secalert@redhathttps://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/80213
Data Freshness Timeline
(refreshed 8× in last 7d / 33× in last 30d)
Each row is a source pipeline that fetched or updated this CVE on that date, with what changed. For example, "NVD update" means NVD published or revised its analysis for this CVE; "MITRE cvelistV5" means we ingested or refreshed it from the CNA feed. Most recent first.
- 2026-07-06 02:19 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-07-06 02:19 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-07-05 10:59 UTCOSV refresh
- 2026-07-05 02:26 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-07-04 06:27 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-07-01 15:02 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-30 23:19 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-30 23:19 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-28 14:03 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-28 04:53 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-28 04:53 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-27 03:05 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-25 13:46 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-24 14:02 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-24 14:02 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-23 21:30 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-22 14:22 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-22 14:22 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-21 01:57 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-21 01:56 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-18 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-18 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-17 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-17 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-16 22:05 UTCOSV refresh
Show 42 moreShow fewer
- 2026-06-16 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-16 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-15 17:44 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-14 23:14 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-13 22:57 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-12 23:08 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-11 13:56 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-08 14:14 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-07 15:22 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-06 13:45 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-06 13:45 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-05 22:44 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-05 22:44 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-05 06:08 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-05 06:08 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-02 20:10 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-02 20:10 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-31 22:28 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-31 22:28 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-31 00:14 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-31 00:14 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-29 13:41 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-29 13:41 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-29 01:45 UTCEG score recompute
- 2026-05-29 01:45 UTCGHSA enrichment
- 2026-05-28 13:42 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-28 13:42 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-28 13:42 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-27 13:38 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-27 13:38 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-24 16:43 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-22 21:15 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-22 21:15 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-22 21:15 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-21 22:39 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-20 22:37 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-20 22:37 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-20 11:21 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-20 11:21 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-20 11:21 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-18 21:29 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-18 21:29 UTCEPSS rescore
Publicly available exploits
(1 reference)Working exploit code is in the public domain (1 Exploit-DB entry). Defenders should treat patch urgency accordingly — public PoCs typically lead to mass-exploitation within 24-72 hours.
- Exploit-DBEDB-22902First seen Nov 22, 2012
lighttpd 1.4.31 - Denial of Service (PoC)
Open source ↗
Frequently asked(4)
What is CVE-2012-5533?
When was CVE-2012-5533 disclosed?
Is CVE-2012-5533 actively exploited?
How do I remediate CVE-2012-5533?
Dependency Blast Radius
Explore the affected products and dependency analysis for CVE-2012-5533
Is Your Infrastructure Affected by CVE-2012-5533?
EchelonGraph automatically scans your cloud infrastructure and maps CVE exposure using blast radius analysis.