Overview
W3CBaggagePropagator.extract() in @opentelemetry/core does not enforce size limits when parsing inbound baggage HTTP headers. The W3C Baggage specification recommends a maximum of 8,192 bytes and 180 entries; these limits were only enforced on the outbound (inject()) path, not on the inbound (extract()) path. Parsing oversized baggage causes memory allocation proportional to the header size without any cap.
Impact
The practical availability impact for most Node.js deployments is limited. Node.js enforces a default --max-http-header-size of 16,384 bytes on the total combined size of all HTTP headers, constraining what an external attacker can deliver before the propagator is reached. Additionally, the header is already in memory (parsed by the HTTP layer) by the time it reaches the propagator - the additional allocation is the overhead of splitting into entry objects, not an unbounded read.
The risk is higher when transport-layer limits are absent - e.g., non-HTTP transports (messaging systems, custom TextMapGetter implementations) or deployments that have raised --max-http-header-size.
Remediation
Update @opentelemetry/core to version 2.8.0 or later. The fix enforces limits consistent with the W3C Baggage specification at the propagator level:
- Maximum total baggage size: 8,192 bytes
- Maximum number of entries: 180
- Maximum per-entry size: 4,096 bytes
Headers that exceed these limits are truncated at the point the limit is reached.
Workarounds
Ensure header size limits are configured at the server or gateway level. The default Node.js HTTP header limit (16 KB) mitigates external attack vectors independently of this fix. For non-HTTP transports receiving baggage from untrusted sources, validate input size before passing it to the propagator.
References
Credit
Reported by tonghuaroot.
References
tonghuaroot Reporter
pichlermarc Remediation developer
trentm Remediation verifier
arminru Coordinator
Overview
W3CBaggagePropagator.extract()in@opentelemetry/coredoes not enforce size limits when parsing inboundbaggageHTTP headers. The W3C Baggage specification recommends a maximum of 8,192 bytes and 180 entries; these limits were only enforced on the outbound (inject()) path, not on the inbound (extract()) path. Parsing oversized baggage causes memory allocation proportional to the header size without any cap.Impact
The practical availability impact for most Node.js deployments is limited. Node.js enforces a default
--max-http-header-sizeof 16,384 bytes on the total combined size of all HTTP headers, constraining what an external attacker can deliver before the propagator is reached. Additionally, the header is already in memory (parsed by the HTTP layer) by the time it reaches the propagator - the additional allocation is the overhead of splitting into entry objects, not an unbounded read.The risk is higher when transport-layer limits are absent - e.g., non-HTTP transports (messaging systems, custom
TextMapGetterimplementations) or deployments that have raised--max-http-header-size.Remediation
Update
@opentelemetry/coreto version 2.8.0 or later. The fix enforces limits consistent with the W3C Baggage specification at the propagator level:Headers that exceed these limits are truncated at the point the limit is reached.
Workarounds
Ensure header size limits are configured at the server or gateway level. The default Node.js HTTP header limit (16 KB) mitigates external attack vectors independently of this fix. For non-HTTP transports receiving baggage from untrusted sources, validate input size before passing it to the propagator.
References
Credit
Reported by tonghuaroot.
References