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Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in Apache CXF JAX-RS

High severity GitHub Reviewed Published May 13, 2022 to the GitHub Advisory Database • Updated Dec 21, 2023

Package

maven org.apache.cxf:cxf-core (Maven)

Affected versions

<= 3.0.11
>= 3.1.0, <= 3.1.8

Patched versions

3.0.12
3.1.9

Description

The JAX-RS module in Apache CXF prior to 3.0.12 and 3.1.x prior to 3.1.9 provides a number of Atom JAX-RS MessageBodyReaders. These readers use Apache Abdera Parser which expands XML entities by default which represents a major XXE risk.

References

Published by the National Vulnerability Database Aug 10, 2017
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database May 13, 2022
Reviewed Jul 6, 2022
Last updated Dec 21, 2023

Severity

High

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
None
Availability
None

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector: More severe the more the remote (logically and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerability.
Attack complexity: More severe for the least complex attacks.
Privileges required: More severe if no privileges are required.
User interaction: More severe when no user interaction is required.
Scope: More severe when a scope change occurs, e.g. one vulnerable component impacts resources in components beyond its security scope.
Confidentiality: More severe when loss of data confidentiality is highest, measuring the level of data access available to an unauthorized user.
Integrity: More severe when loss of data integrity is the highest, measuring the consequence of data modification possible by an unauthorized user.
Availability: More severe when the loss of impacted component availability is highest.
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

EPSS score

0.551%
(78th percentile)

Weaknesses

CVE ID

CVE-2016-8739

GHSA ID

GHSA-x7xf-253v-x3w8

Source code

Credits

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