Echo v4: Memory exhaustion in BodyDump middleware
Summary
Echo v4's opt-in BodyDump middleware reads complete request bodies into memory before handlers run and keeps complete response bodies for its dump callback without size limits. An unauthenticated client that can reach a route with BodyDump enabled can send large request bodies or trigger large responses, causing repeated or concurrent allocations that exhaust process memory. BodyDump is not enabled by default, and external request limits reduce request-side exposure but do not bound response capture.
Affected
- labstack Echo v4 (github.com/labstack/echo/v4), versions 4.0.0 up to 4.16.0
- Affected range per CNA: >= 4.0.0, < 4.16.1
Fixed in
- Echo v4.16.1 (bounds BodyDump captures to 5 MiB each by default)
Workaround
- Disable BodyDump on exposed routes, especially large uploads and downloads.
- Alternatively, enforce body-size limits before BodyDump and bound the responses the application generates.
Exploitation
- No evidence of in-the-wild exploitation; not listed in CISA KEV.
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, automatable yes, technical impact partial.
- Public exploit code: unverified.
Our recommendation
- Check inventories (go.mod files, SBOMs) for github.com/labstack/echo/v4 versions below 4.16.1.
- Upgrade to v4.16.1 or later and plan a Go 1.26 or later toolchain update.
- Check whether BodyDump is enabled; if so, review the MaxRequestBytes and MaxResponseBytes settings.
- Until patched, disable BodyDump on internet-facing routes or apply strict body-size limits.
- Monitor memory usage and restarts of affected services.
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-f48p-c9v4-h7xv github.com
- Echo release v4.16.1 github.com
- Fix commit 3fb0ba7e github.com
- OSV GHSA-f48p-c9v4-h7xv osv.dev
- Ubuntu CVE-2026-118260 ubuntu.com
- Vulners CVELIST:CVE-2026-118260 vulners.com
- Strix CVE-2026-118260 www.strix.ai
Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 1 Nov 2026, 14:44.
Original description (NVD)
Echo is a Go web framework. From 4.0.0 until 4.16.1, Echo v4's opt-in BodyDump middleware reads complete request bodies into memory before handlers run and retains complete response bodies for the dump callback without capture limits. An unauthenticated client that can reach a route using BodyDump can submit large bodies or influence large responses, causing repeated or concurrent allocations that exhaust process memory. BodyDump is not enabled by default, and external request limits may reduce request-side exposure but do not bound response capture. This issue is fixed in 4.16.1.
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
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