CVE-2026-27980
Next.js: Unbounded next/image disk cache growth can exhaust storage
Description
Next.js is a React framework for building full-stack web applications. Starting in version 10.0.0 and prior to version 16.1.7, the default Next.js image optimization disk cache (`/_next/image`) did not have a configurable upper bound, allowing unbounded cache growth. An attacker could generate many unique image-optimization variants and exhaust disk space, causing denial of service. This is fixed in version 16.1.7 by adding an LRU-backed disk cache with `images.maximumDiskCacheSize`, including eviction of least-recently-used entries when the limit is exceeded. Setting `maximumDiskCacheSize: 0` disables disk caching. If upgrading is not immediately possible, periodically clean `.next/cache/images` and/or reduce variant cardinality (e.g., tighten values for `images.localPatterns`, `images.remotePatterns`, and `images.qualities`).
INFO
Published Date :
March 18, 2026, 1:16 a.m.
Last Modified :
March 18, 2026, 7:52 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
Yes !
Source :
[email protected]
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH | [email protected] | ||||
| CVSS 4.0 | MEDIUM | [email protected] |
Solution
- Update Next.js to version 16.1.7 or later.
- Configure `images.maximumDiskCacheSize` to limit cache growth.
- If upgrading is not possible, clean `.next/cache/images` periodically.
- Reduce variant cardinality for image optimization.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2026-27980.
| URL | Resource |
|---|---|
| https://github.com/vercel/next.js/commit/39eb8e0ac498b48855a0430fbf4c22276a73b4bd | Patch |
| https://github.com/vercel/next.js/releases/tag/v16.1.7 | Release Notes |
| https://github.com/vercel/next.js/security/advisories/GHSA-3x4c-7xq6-9pq8 | Vendor Advisory Mitigation |
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-27980 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-27980
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2026-27980 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-27980 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
-
Initial Analysis by [email protected]
Mar. 18, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:vercel:next.js:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:* versions from (including) 10.0.0 up to (excluding) 16.1.7 Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/vercel/next.js/commit/39eb8e0ac498b48855a0430fbf4c22276a73b4bd Types: Patch Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/vercel/next.js/releases/tag/v16.1.7 Types: Release Notes Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/vercel/next.js/security/advisories/GHSA-3x4c-7xq6-9pq8 Types: Mitigation, Vendor Advisory -
New CVE Received by [email protected]
Mar. 18, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description Next.js is a React framework for building full-stack web applications. Starting in version 10.0.0 and prior to version 16.1.7, the default Next.js image optimization disk cache (`/_next/image`) did not have a configurable upper bound, allowing unbounded cache growth. An attacker could generate many unique image-optimization variants and exhaust disk space, causing denial of service. This is fixed in version 16.1.7 by adding an LRU-backed disk cache with `images.maximumDiskCacheSize`, including eviction of least-recently-used entries when the limit is exceeded. Setting `maximumDiskCacheSize: 0` disables disk caching. If upgrading is not immediately possible, periodically clean `.next/cache/images` and/or reduce variant cardinality (e.g., tighten values for `images.localPatterns`, `images.remotePatterns`, and `images.qualities`). Added CVSS V4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X Added CWE CWE-400 Added Reference https://github.com/vercel/next.js/commit/39eb8e0ac498b48855a0430fbf4c22276a73b4bd Added Reference https://github.com/vercel/next.js/releases/tag/v16.1.7 Added Reference https://github.com/vercel/next.js/security/advisories/GHSA-3x4c-7xq6-9pq8