Security assessments indicate that CVE-2026-120216 presents a notable risk, potentially requiring prompt mitigation.
Status: Received on 02 Nov 2026, 11:17 UTC
Published on: 02 Nov 2026, 11:17 UTC
CVSS Release: version 3
ce714d77-add3-4f53-aff5-83d477b104bb
Secondary
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CVE-2026-120216: fastify is a web framework for Node.js. In versions 5.8.0 through 5.12.7, when the server is configured with a nonzero handlerTimeout and a route returns a streaming response, a request whose stream has already sent its headers but stays open past the timeout crashes the server. When the timeout fires, Fastify tries to send a new error response on a response that has already started, raising an uncaught ERR_HTTP_HEADERS_SENT that terminates the Node.js process and interrupts any other in-flight requests. An unauthenticated remote client can trigger this with a single request to an affected streaming endpoint, so the impact is availability only, and exploitation requires the non-default handlerTimeout to be set. The default handlerTimeout of 0 is not affected. The issue is fixed in fastify 5.12.8, and users should upgrade to 5.12.8 or later. As a workaround, set handlerTimeout to 0, which disables the affected timeout path.
The exploitability of CVE-2026-120216 depends on two key factors: attack complexity (the level of effort required to execute an exploit) and privileges required (the access level an attacker needs).
CVE-2026-120216 presents a challenge to exploit due to its high attack complexity, but the absence of privilege requirements still makes it a viable target for skilled attackers. A thorough security review is advised.
A lower complexity and fewer privilege requirements make exploitation easier. Security teams should evaluate these aspects to determine the urgency of mitigation strategies, such as patch management and access control policies.
Attack Complexity (AC) measures the difficulty in executing an exploit. A high AC means that specific conditions must be met, making an attack more challenging, while a low AC means the vulnerability can be exploited with minimal effort.
Privileges Required (PR) determine the level of system access necessary for an attack. Vulnerabilities requiring no privileges are more accessible to attackers, whereas high privilege requirements limit exploitation to authorized users with elevated access.
Above is the CVSS Sub-score Breakdown for CVE-2026-120216, illustrating how Base, Impact, and Exploitability factors combine to form the overall severity rating. A higher sub-score typically indicates a more severe or easier-to-exploit vulnerability.
Below is the Impact Analysis for CVE-2026-120216, showing how Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability might be affected if the vulnerability is exploited. Higher values usually signal greater potential damage.
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