Apache HTTP Server 2.4.41 is running on thousands of websites worldwide, but recent security disclosures have revealed significant vulnerabilities that put these sites at risk. With 3 documented CVEs—including one high-severity flaw that can crash your server—understanding these threats is essential for website administrators and security teams.
This comprehensive guide walks you through identifying if your Apache installation is vulnerable, understanding what's at stake, and implementing the necessary fixes to protect your infrastructure. Whether you're managing a single website or a large-scale operation, staying informed about these vulnerabilities is critical to maintaining your site's security and uptime.
The good news is that patching these vulnerabilities is straightforward when you know what to do. Let's break down each CVE, its impact, and the steps needed to secure your Apache server.
Apache HTTP Server is one of the world's most popular web servers, powering approximately 30% of all websites on the internet. Version 2.4.41 was released as a maintenance update designed to provide stability and performance improvements. It uses a modular architecture, meaning different modules handle specific functions like proxying requests, rewriting URLs, and managing connections—this flexibility is powerful but also requires careful security management.
Apache 2.4.41 includes several modules that process incoming web requests and manage how your server communicates with clients and other servers. When security vulnerabilities are discovered in these modules, they can potentially allow attackers to crash your server, redirect users to malicious sites, or access sensitive information. The three CVEs affecting this version specifically target the mod_proxy_http, mod_rewrite, and mod_proxy_ftp modules, which handle critical server functions.
3 CVEs found. The most critical are explained below.
Attackers can send specially crafted requests to your website that cause Apache to crash and stop working. This is a vulnerability in how Apache handles certain types of web requests. Your website would become unavailable until you restart the server.
Impact: Your website goes down (Denial of Service), preventing customers from accessing it. An attacker doesn't need access to your system—they can cause this remotely from the internet.
↗ View on NVDIf your website uses automatic redirects (like sending visitors to a different page), attackers can trick those redirects into sending people to malicious websites instead. This happens through hidden characters in the web address.
Impact: Visitors could be redirected to phishing sites or malware, damaging your reputation and putting customer data at risk. Attackers could impersonate your business.
↗ View on NVDIf your website connects to FTP servers (for file transfers), a malicious FTP server could cause Apache to access memory incorrectly. This only affects sites actually using FTP connections through Apache.
Impact: An attacker running a malicious FTP server could potentially crash your website or cause unpredictable behavior. Most websites don't use FTP this way, so impact depends on your setup.
↗ View on NVDScan your site in 30 seconds. Used by 500+ web agencies.
Apache 2.4.41 vulnerabilities represent a real security risk for the 3,099 websites still running this version. The high-severity CVE-2020-13950 can allow attackers to crash your server, while the medium-severity flaws could lead to unexpected redirects or memory issues. Taking action to update your Apache installation is not optional—it's essential infrastructure maintenance that protects your users, your data, and your reputation.
Don't leave your website vulnerable to known exploits. SiteRecipe.com's vulnerability scanning tools instantly detect which versions of Apache and other critical software are running on your server, identify all associated CVEs, and provide step-by-step remediation guidance. Start your free security audit today and gain peace of mind knowing your web infrastructure is protected against the latest threats.
Web agencies use SiteRecipe to produce branded PDF security reports in 30 seconds.