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Home / Blog / Apache 2.4.6
Security Advisory

Apache 2.4.6: 37 Critical Vulnerabilities You Must Fix Now

📅 June 07, 2026 ·⏱ 5 min read ·🔒 SiteRecipe Security Team
697 websites still running Apache 2.4.6  → View full list
37
Total
4
Critical
20
High
13
Medium

Apache HTTP Server 2.4.6 is running on 697 websites worldwide, but it's harboring a dangerous secret: 37 known vulnerabilities, including 4 critical-severity flaws that could expose your server to complete compromise. These aren't theoretical risks—they're actively exploited by attackers targeting outdated web servers. If your website is still running Apache 2.4.6, you're sitting on a cybersecurity time bomb.

The most alarming vulnerabilities include script execution attacks through mod_rewrite, information disclosure via malicious response headers, heap-based buffer overflows in mod_proxy_ajp, and TLS 1.3 session resumption bypass attacks. Each one could allow attackers to execute code on your server, steal sensitive data, or bypass your security controls entirely.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll show you exactly how to identify if you're vulnerable, understand the real-world impact of these flaws, and execute a safe upgrade strategy to protect your infrastructure. Don't wait until it's too late—your server's security depends on taking action today.

What is Apache 2.4.6?

Apache HTTP Server is the world's most popular web server software, powering approximately 30% of all websites on the internet. It's an open-source application that handles the critical task of receiving visitor requests and serving web pages, applications, and content to your users. Version 2.4.6 was released in 2013 and has been widely deployed across enterprise and small business environments due to its reliability and flexibility.

Apache's longevity and widespread adoption are double-edged swords. While the software itself is robust and well-documented, running outdated versions like 2.4.6 means missing years of security patches and improvements. The longer your server runs an old version, the more likely attackers have discovered and weaponized its vulnerabilities. Think of it like leaving your front door locked with a key from 2013—while it may have worked then, security experts have since discovered multiple ways to pick that exact lock.

Key Vulnerabilities in Apache 2.4.6

37 CVEs found. The most critical are explained below.

CRITICAL CVE-2024-38474 9.8/10 · CVSS v3.1 ⏱ Immediate
Hidden Script Execution Vulnerability

Apache has a flaw where attackers can run scripts that are hidden from normal website access. These scripts were meant to be protected, but the vulnerability allows attackers to find and execute them anyway.

Impact: An attacker could run malicious code on your server, potentially stealing data, modifying your website, or taking control of your server.

↗ View on NVD
CRITICAL CVE-2024-38476 9.8/10 · CVSS v3.1 ⏱ Immediate
Data Leakage and Server Manipulation Flaw

Apache's core can be manipulated through malicious responses from connected servers or applications. This allows attackers to expose sensitive information, access other systems, or run unauthorized code.

Impact: Sensitive data like database credentials or customer information could be exposed, or attackers could use your server to attack other systems.

↗ View on NVD
CRITICAL CVE-2026-28780 9.8/10 · CVSS v3.1 ⏱ Immediate
Memory Corruption in Proxy Module

A memory protection flaw exists in Apache's proxy module. If your server connects to a malicious external server, that server can corrupt your server's memory and inject malicious data.

Impact: Server crash, data corruption, or complete server compromise allowing attackers full control.

↗ View on NVD
CRITICAL CVE-2025-23048 9.1/10 · CVSS v3.1 ⏱ Immediate
SSL Certificate Access Control Bypass

In certain SSL configurations with multiple websites, attackers with a valid certificate for one website can gain unauthorized access to other websites through a loophole in the security handshake.

Impact: Attackers could access restricted areas of your website or other hosted websites without proper authorization.

↗ View on NVD
HIGH CVE-2016-6801 8.8/10 · CVSS v3.0
↗ View on NVD
HIGH CVE-2026-24072 8.8/10 · CVSS v3.1 ⏱ Within 7 days
Privilege Escalation via Configuration Files

Website administrators who create .htaccess configuration files can accidentally read sensitive files belonging to the web server itself, accessing data they shouldn't have permission to see.

Impact: Sensitive server files, database credentials, and other confidential information could be accessed by website administrators.

↗ View on NVD

Additional Vulnerabilities (31 more)

Showing first 10 of 31. View all on NVD ↗

CVE IDSeverityScore PublishedDescription
CVE-2026-23918 HIGH 8.8 2026-05-04 Double Free and possible RCE vulnerability in Apache HTTP Server with the HTTP/2 protocol. This issue affects Apache HTTP Server: 2.4.66. Users are recommended to upgrade to ver…
CVE-2025-58098 HIGH 8.3 2025-12-05 Apache HTTP Server 2.4.65 and earlier with Server Side Includes (SSI) enabled and mod_cgid (but not mod_cgi) passes the shell-escaped query string to #exec cmd="..." directives. …
CVE-2024-38473 HIGH 8.1 2024-07-01 Encoding problem in mod_proxy in Apache HTTP Server 2.4.59 and earlier allows request URLs with incorrect encoding to be sent to backend services, potentially bypassing authentica…
CVE-2024-38472 HIGH 7.5 2024-07-01 SSRF in Apache HTTP Server on Windows allows to potentially leak NTLM hashes to a malicious server via SSRF and malicious requests or content Users are recommended to upgrade to …
CVE-2024-38477 HIGH 7.5 2024-07-01 null pointer dereference in mod_proxy in Apache HTTP Server 2.4.59 and earlier allows an attacker to crash the server via a malicious request. Users are recommended to upgrade to …
CVE-2024-39573 HIGH 7.5 2024-07-01 Potential SSRF in mod_rewrite in Apache HTTP Server 2.4.59 and earlier allows an attacker to cause unsafe RewriteRules to unexpectedly setup URL's to be handled by mod_proxy. User…
CVE-2024-40898 HIGH 7.5 2024-07-18 SSRF in Apache HTTP Server on Windows with mod_rewrite in server/vhost context, allows to potentially leak NTML hashes to a malicious server via SSRF and malicious requests. User…
CVE-2024-42516 HIGH 7.5 2025-07-10 HTTP response splitting in the core of Apache HTTP Server allows an attacker who can manipulate the Content-Type response headers of applications hosted or proxied by the server c…
CVE-2024-43204 HIGH 7.5 2025-07-10 SSRF in Apache HTTP Server with mod_proxy loaded allows an attacker to send outbound proxy requests to a URL controlled by the attacker.  Requires an unlikely configuration where …
CVE-2024-43394 HIGH 7.5 2025-07-10 Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) in Apache HTTP Server on Windows allows to potentially leak NTLM hashes to a malicious server via  mod_rewrite or apache expressions that pass u…
Full Report Available

All 37 CVEs with AI explanations + fix guide

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How to Fix These Vulnerabilities

Conclusion

Running Apache 2.4.6 in 2024 is like driving a car with expired brakes—you might get away with it for a while, but the consequences of failure are catastrophic. The four critical vulnerabilities alone could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, steal confidential information, and completely compromise your server's integrity. The fact that 697 websites are still running this ancient version suggests many administrators are unaware of the risks or are postponing necessary upgrades.

Your business's security, your users' privacy, and your reputation depend on keeping your web infrastructure current. SiteRecipe.com offers free vulnerability scanning and personalized upgrade guidance to help you move from Apache 2.4.6 to a secure, modern version with confidence. Start with our free security assessment today—identify your vulnerabilities, understand your specific risks, and get a custom remediation plan. Don't become another breach statistic. Upgrade your Apache server now with SiteRecipe.com's expert support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Apache 2.4.6 still receiving security updates?
No. Apache 2.4.6 reached end-of-life years ago and no longer receives official security patches. The only way to protect your server is to upgrade to version 2.4.67 or later, which includes fixes for all known vulnerabilities in older versions.
Will upgrading Apache break my website or applications?
Upgrading from 2.4.6 to a modern version is generally safe, but custom modules, third-party integrations, or legacy configurations may require adjustments. Always test in a staging environment first and maintain backups of your current configuration.
How long does it take to upgrade Apache safely?
A typical upgrade takes 2-4 hours including planning, backup, installation, configuration testing, and post-upgrade monitoring. The timeline depends on your server's complexity, the number of virtual hosts, and SSL certificates you're managing.
What happens if my server gets hacked through one of these vulnerabilities?
Attackers could execute arbitrary code on your server, steal customer data, install malware, redirect traffic to malicious sites, or use your server to attack other targets. Recovery costs, downtime, and reputation damage can be catastrophic—prevention through upgrading is far cheaper.
Can I skip straight from Apache 2.4.6 to the latest version?
Yes, jumping directly to Apache 2.4.67+ is safe and recommended. You don't need to upgrade incrementally through intermediate versions, though you should test thoroughly before deploying to production.

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DISCLAIMER: This report is based on publicly available CVE data from the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) maintained by NIST. Detection of a technology version does not confirm active exploitation on any specific website. For informational purposes only. SiteRecipe is not responsible for actions taken based on this report. Always consult a qualified security professional.

Source: nvd.nist.gov · Published: June 07, 2026 · SiteRecipe.com