Description
When libpsl support is enabled, libcurl fails to enforce the Public Suffix
List boundary check when processing a `Set-Cookie` header where the `Domain`
attribute explicitly matches an origin host that is itself a public suffix
(e.g., `Domain=co.uk` set by `co.uk`).

Instead of coercing it into a strict host-only cookie, libcurl saves the
cookie with wildcard domain scope (`.co.uk`). Consequently, the cookie is
inappropriately included in subsequent outbound requests or HTTP redirects to
arbitrary sibling subdomains under the same public suffix (e.g.,
`attacker.co.uk`).
Published: 2026-09-06
Score: n/a
EPSS: n/a
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

Impact

The vulnerability occurs when libpsl support is enabled in libcurl; the library incorrectly stores a cookie with a wildcard domain scope for a Set‑Cookie header whose Domain attribute matches a public suffix host. This results in the cookie being sent to any subdomain under the same public suffix, rather than being limited to the originating host. The unintended cookie scope can enable attackers to conduct cross‑subdomain tracking, session hijacking, or CSRF attacks by leveraging the cookie across unrelated sites that share the same public suffix.

Affected Systems

The affected product is libcurl (the curl library) when it is compiled with libpsl support. No specific version numbers are listed, so any build of curl that includes libpsl may be impacted until the vendor releases a fix.

Risk and Exploitability

EPSS information is not available and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog. The CVSS score is not provided, so the severity cannot be quantified from the data. The known attack vector involves an attacker controlling a domain that is itself a public suffix, such as co.uk, who can set a cookie with Domain=co.uk. By doing so, the attacker can force that cookie to be sent to any subdomain of co.uk, including unrelated sites such as attacker.co.uk, which could then be used to hijack sessions or perform other cross‑domain attacks. Because the flaw requires the attacker to generate a Set‑Cookie header from a public suffix domain and it relies on libcurl's cookie handling, exploitation is considered evitable by ensuring that cookie domains are validated against the public suffix list, but no exploitation reports are currently available.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on September 6, 2026 at 19:21 UTC.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Apply the latest libcurl update that includes the patch for CVE‑2026‑82209, as released by the curl project.
  • If an immediate upgrade is not feasible, rebuild or reconfigure libcurl with libpsl support disabled, which prevents the library from applying public suffix validation and eliminates the cookie scope mis‑handling.
  • As a temporary network‑level safeguard, filter outbound Set‑Cookie headers that contain Domain attributes equal to a public suffix, stripping or rejecting the Domain attribute so that only host‑only cookies are stored.
  • Verify that any web servers you control do not specify a Domain attribute that matches a public suffix; if such headers are unavoidable, remove the Domain attribute entirely or use the Secure and SameSite attributes to restrict cookie usage.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on September 6, 2026 at 19:21 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories

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History

Sun, 06 Sep 2026 19:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Curl
Curl curl
Weaknesses CWE-20
Vendors & Products Curl
Curl curl

Sun, 06 Sep 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description When libpsl support is enabled, libcurl fails to enforce the Public Suffix List boundary check when processing a `Set-Cookie` header where the `Domain` attribute explicitly matches an origin host that is itself a public suffix (e.g., `Domain=co.uk` set by `co.uk`). Instead of coercing it into a strict host-only cookie, libcurl saves the cookie with wildcard domain scope (`.co.uk`). Consequently, the cookie is inappropriately included in subsequent outbound requests or HTTP redirects to arbitrary sibling subdomains under the same public suffix (e.g., `attacker.co.uk`).
Title domain-scoped PSL domain cookie
References

cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: curl

Published:

Updated: 2026-09-06T17:49:35.050Z

Reserved: 2026-08-28T08:25:48.340Z

Link: CVE-2026-82209

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-09-06T18:17:22.847

Modified: 2026-09-06T18:17:22.847

Link: CVE-2026-82209

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-09-06T19:30:11Z

Weaknesses
  • CWE-20

    Improper Input Validation