CVE-2009-2936

CVE-2009-2936 is a high-severity vulnerability in Varnish.projects.linpro Varnish with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.5. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 64% places it in the 99th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-287.

Key facts

Description

The Command Line Interface (aka Server CLI or administration interface) in the master process in the reverse proxy server in Varnish before 2.1.0 does not require authentication for commands received through a TCP port, which allows remote attackers to (1) execute arbitrary code via a vcl.inline directive that provides a VCL configuration file containing inline C code; (2) change the ownership of the master process via param.set, stop, and start directives; (3) read the initial line of an arbitrary file via a vcl.load directive; or (4) conduct cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks that leverage a victim's location on a trusted network and improper input validation of directives. NOTE: the vendor disputes this report, saying that it is "fundamentally misguided and pointless.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-2936?
The Command Line Interface (aka Server CLI or administration interface) in the master process in the reverse proxy server in Varnish before 2.1.0 does not require authentication for commands received through a TCP port, which allows remote attackers to (1) execute arbitrary code via a vcl.inline directive that provides a VCL configuration file containing inline C code; (2) change the ownership of the master process via param.set, stop, and start directives; (3) read the initial line of an arbitrary file via a vcl.load directive; or (4) conduct cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks that leverage a victim's location on a trusted network and improper input validation of directives. NOTE: the vendor disputes this report, saying that it is "fundamentally misguided and pointless.
How severe is CVE-2009-2936?
CVE-2009-2936 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.5, rated high severity.
Is CVE-2009-2936 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 64% (99th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2009-2936?
CVE-2009-2936 primarily affects Varnish.projects.linpro Varnish. In total, 20 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2009-2936?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2009-2936 published?
CVE-2009-2936 was published on 2010-04-05 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (20)

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