Improper Input Validation in io.netty:netty-codec-http3

Summary

Netty's HTTP/3 codec versions from 4.2.2.Final through 4.2.17.Final builds the HTTP/3 ":authority" pseudo-header from the HTTP/1 Host header before considering the authority of an absolute-form HTTP/1 request-target. In "HttpConversionUtil.toHttp3Headers(HttpMessage, boolean)" reached via "Http3FrameToHttpObjectCodec(false)" a non-empty Host header takes precedence over the request-target authority, contrary to the HTTP/1.1 rule that a server receiving an absolute-form request-target must ignore the Host header. In a Netty-based HTTP/1-to-HTTP/3 gateway, proxy, or protocol bridge, a remote client can send a request such as "GET https://trusted.example/admin HTTP/1.1" with "Host: attacker.example", causing components that validate, authorize, or route on the RFC-defined request-target authority to reach a different decision than the upstream HTTP/3 peer, which receives :authority derived from the conflicting Host header. This authority confusion can affect virtual-host routing, allow-list checks, backend selection, cache keys, and URL generation. The advisory reports integrity impact only (no code execution, memory corruption, or availability impact).