Description
vLLM versions before 0.28.0 fail to validate audio sample rate headers in the transcription endpoint, allowing authenticated clients to bypass duration checks. Attackers can submit forged FLAC headers with inflated sample rates to trigger excessive memory allocation and crash the API server process affecting all tenants.
Published: 2026-09-12
Score: 7.1 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Denial of Service
Action: Apply Patch
AI Analysis

Impact

vLLM versions prior to validate the sample rate in FLAC audio headers used by the transcription endpoint. This missing check allows an authenticated user to craft a header with an inflated sample rate, causing the server to allocate an excessive amount of memory during transcription. The resulting memory exhaustion triggers a crash of the API server, leading to a denial of service that impacts all tenants that rely on the service.

Affected Systems

Any deployment of the open‑source library vLLM from vllm-project using a 0.28.0‑older release is susceptible to this flaw, as identified in the advisory.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score of 7.1 indicates a high impact. No EPSS data is available and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog. Exploitation requires an authenticated client that submits a specially crafted FLAC file. Successful service interruption for all tenants. Attackers with valid credentials can therefore achieve widespread denial of service with minimal effort once an account is compromised.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on September 13, 2026 at 12:08 UTC.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Upgrade vLLM to version 0.28.0 or later to address the header validation bug.
  • Restrict the transcription endpoint to trusted clients and enforce strict authentication policies.
  • Implement custom validation to check audio sample rate headers against acceptable ranges before processing.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on September 13, 2026 at 12:08 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories yet.

History

Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-770
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

threat_severity

Moderate


Sat, 12 Sep 2026 12:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description vLLM versions before 0.28.0 fail to validate audio sample rate headers in the transcription endpoint, allowing authenticated clients to bypass duration checks. Attackers can submit forged FLAC headers with inflated sample rates to trigger excessive memory allocation and crash the API server process affecting all tenants.
Title vLLM before 0.28.0 Denial of Service via Audio Header
First Time appeared Vllm
Vllm vllm
Weaknesses CWE-409
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:vllm:vllm:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Vllm
Vllm vllm
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

cvssV4_0

{'score': 7.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}


cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: VulnCheck

Published:

Updated: 2026-09-12T12:08:58.226Z

Reserved: 2026-09-12T11:13:43.326Z

Link: CVE-2026-90555

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-09-12T13:16:54.180

Modified: 2026-09-12T13:16:54.180

Link: CVE-2026-90555

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2026-09-12T12:08:58Z

Links: CVE-2026-90555 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-09-13T12:15:05Z

Weaknesses
  • CWE-409

    Improper Handling of Highly Compressed Data (Data Amplification)

  • CWE-770

    Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling