# CVE-2026-92390: curl remote-header-name file overwrite bypass

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-92390-when-invoked-with-remote-header-name-j-curl-fails-to-preserve-its  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-20. Updated: 2026-10-20  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-92390 · Severity: info · Published 2026-10-20

curl is a widely-used command-line tool for downloading files from the internet. When using the -J option (which prevents overwriting existing files), an HTTP server can bypass this protection by sending specific HTTP headers, allowing it to overwrite a local file. This could enable attackers to replace legitimate files with malicious content.

Technologies: [Curl](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/curl-curl). Vendors: [Curl](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/curl).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-92390 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-92390 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-92390?** Informational severity, published 20 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Curl 7.20.0 to 8.22.0, except 8.14.3 (8.14.x branch), 8.16.2 (8.16.x branch), 8.20.2 (8.20.x branch).

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-92390?** Yes: fixed in curl 8.23.0, 8.20.2, 8.16.2, 8.14.3. Until then: Upgrade to the patched version or avoid using the -J (--remote-header-name) option when downloading files from untrusted servers. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-92390 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-92390?** Check whether you run Curl at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- Fixed in curl 8.23.0, 8.20.2, 8.16.2, 8.14.3

Upgrade to the patched version or avoid using the -J (--remote-header-name) option when downloading files from untrusted servers.

## Technical details

The vulnerability exists in curl's handling of the --remote-header-name (-J) anti-clobbering protection. When a 103 Early Hints response precedes the final HTTP response, or when an ETag header is processed before Content-Disposition under --etag-save, the no-overwrite constraint is bypassed. An unauthenticated attacker controlling an HTTP(S) server can craft responses that exploit this logic flaw to overwrite local files despite the -J protection.

## Affected products

- curl curl 7.20.0 to 8.22.0, except 8.14.3 (8.14.x branch), 8.16.2 (8.16.x branch), 8.20.2 (8.20.x branch)

## Timeline

- 2026-09-12: disclosed: Vulnerability reported to curl project
- 2026-10-14: patched: curl 8.23.0 released with fix
- 2026-10-14: advisory: Security advisory published

## References

- [https://curl.se/docs/CVE-2026-92390.html](https://curl.se/docs/CVE-2026-92390.html)
- [https://curl.se/docs/CVE-2026-92390.json](https://curl.se/docs/CVE-2026-92390.json)

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