CVE-2026-15996: GitHub Enterprise Server · Uncontrolled Recursion
Affects GitHub Enterprise ServerSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 6.6 Medium · fixed in 3.20.3 : update GitHub Enterprise Server when convenient.
Data as of 3 Nov 2026, 10:57 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.7% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 55% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 3.20.3
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:UExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 5 Aug 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 3 Nov 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| GitHubEnterprise Server | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
Upgrade GitHub Enterprise Server to one of the fixed versions: 3.20.3, 3.19.7, 3.18.10, or 3.17.16. These versions contain the official fix for this vulnerability. Patch status is confirmed by the vendor advisory information embedded in the description.
Description
CVE-2026-15996 is a denial of service vulnerability in GitHub Enterprise Server that allows unauthenticated attackers to cause excessive CPU usage and exhaust request-handling workers by sending crafted HTTP POST requests with deeply nested parameters. This affects all versions prior to 3.21 and was fixed in versions 3.20.3, 3.19.7, 3.18.10, and 3.17.16.
References
- docs.github.com/en/enterprise-server@3.17/admin/release-notes (opens in a new tab)
- docs.github.com/en/enterprise-server@3.18/admin/release-notes (opens in a new tab)
- docs.github.com/en/enterprise-server@3.19/admin/release-notes (opens in a new tab)
- docs.github.com/en/enterprise-server@3.20/admin/release-notes (opens in a new tab)