ngx_http_lua_module (aka lua-nginx-module) before 0.10.16 in OpenResty allows unsafe characters in an argument when using the API to mutate a URI, or a request or response header.

The remote Debian 11 host has packages installed that are affected by multiple vulnerabilities as referenced in the dla-4228 advisory.

    - -------------------------------------------------------------------------     Debian LTS Advisory DLA-4228-1                debian-lts@lists.debian.org     https://www.debian.org/lts/security/                      Sylvain Beucler     June 24, 2025                                 https://wiki.debian.org/LTS
    - -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Package        : nginx     Version        : 1.18.0-6.1+deb11u5     CVE ID         : CVE-2020-36309 CVE-2024-33452     Debian Bug     : 986787

    Two vulnerabilities were discovered in Nginx, a high-performance web     and reverse proxy server, more precisely in ngx_http_lua_module, which     embeds the Lua scripting language into Nginx. This could lead to     request smuggling or contribute to cache poisoning and authentication     bypass.

    ngx_http_lua_module is provided by the optional libnginx-mod-http-lua     binary package.

    CVE-2020-36309

        ngx_http_lua_module allows unsafe characters in an argument when         using the API to mutate a URI, or a request or response header.

    CVE-2024-33452

        lua-nginx-module allows a remote attacker to conduct HTTP request         smuggling via a crafted HEAD request.

    For Debian 11 bullseye, these problems have been fixed in version     1.18.0-6.1+deb11u5.

    We recommend that you upgrade your nginx packages.

    For the detailed security status of nginx please refer to     its security tracker page at:
    https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/nginx

    Further information about Debian LTS security advisories, how to apply     these updates to your system and frequently asked questions can be     found at: https://wiki.debian.org/LTS

Tenable has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Debian security advisory.

Note that Nessus has not tested for these issues but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed that are impacted by a vulnerability without a vendor supplied patch available.

  - ngx_http_lua_module (aka lua-nginx-module) before 0.10.16 in OpenResty allows unsafe characters in an     argument when using the API to mutate a URI, or a request or response header. (CVE-2020-36309)

Note that Nessus relies on the presence of the package as reported by the vendor.

The remote Ubuntu 16.04 ESM / 18.04 LTS / 20.04 LTS host has packages installed that are affected by multiple vulnerabilities as referenced in the USN-5371-1 advisory.

    It was discovered that nginx Lua module mishandled certain inputs. An attacker could possibly use this     issue to perform an HTTP Request Smuggling attack. This issue was fixed for Ubuntu 18.04 LTS and Ubuntu     20.04 LTS. (CVE-2020-11724)

    It was discovered that nginx Lua module mishandled certain inputs. An attacker could possibly use this     issue to disclose sensitive information. This issue only affects Ubuntu 18.04 LTS and Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.
    (CVE-2020-36309)

    It was discovered that nginx mishandled the use of

    compatible certificates among multiple encryption protocols.

    If a remote attacker were able to intercept the communication,

    this issue could be used to redirect traffic between subdomains. (CVE-2021-3618)

Tenable has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Ubuntu security advisory.

Note that Nessus has not tested for these issues but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

ID	Name	Product	Family	Severity
240484	Debian dla-4228 : libnginx-mod-http-auth-pam - security update	Nessus	Debian Local Security Checks	medium
230228	Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2020-36309	Nessus	Misc.	medium
159690	Ubuntu 16.04 ESM / 18.04 LTS / 20.04 LTS : nginx vulnerabilities (USN-5371-1)	Nessus	Ubuntu Local Security Checks	high

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CVE-2020-36309

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