Published: July 3, 2026 | Last Modified: July 3, 2026
webpack-dev-server versions 5.2.5 and earlier terminate the whole Node.js process when an unauthenticated peer sends either a normal HTTP request with a malformed Host header or a WebSocket upgrade to the default /ws endpoint with a malformed Origin header. The malformed value causes an uncaught exception in the host-validation path and crashes the dev server. Impact is limited to availability of the development server, no data disclosure, no code execution. Patches: upgrade to webpack-dev-server 5.2.6. Workarounds: keep the dev server bound to localhost (the default) and do not expose it to untrusted networks.
This analysis is generated by Ghostwire from NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS, and open-source intelligence data. Verify findings through primary sources before acting.