XML external entity injection in Apache CXF
Priority MEDIUM 43CWE-611Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Information disclosure
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · None
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 2 fixed, 5 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA, GitHub and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-611 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
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.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.07317 94th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Apache CXF (Apache Software Foundation): 3.0.12, 3.1.9org.apache.cxf:cxf-core (Maven): 3.0.12, 3.1.9Red Hat: 1 advisoryRed Hat: 2 fixed, 5 without a fix
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apache | Apache CXF | before 3.0.12; 3.1 to before 3.1.9 | 3.0.12, 3.1.9 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | org.apache.cxf:cxf-core (Maven) | before 3.0.12 | 3.0.12 | Patch available | GHSA-x7xf-253v-x3w8 |
| — | org.apache.cxf:cxf-core (Maven) | 3.1.0 to before 3.1.9 | 3.1.9 | Patch available | GHSA-x7xf-253v-x3w8 |
- Apache CXF VendorApache Affected before 3.0.12; 3.1 to before 3.1.9 Fixed in 3.0.12, 3.1.9 Patch available CNA
- org.apache.cxf:cxf-core (Maven) Vendor— Affected before 3.0.12 Fixed in 3.0.12 Patch available GHSA-x7xf-253v-x3w8
- org.apache.cxf:cxf-core (Maven) Vendor— Affected 3.1.0 to before 3.1.9 Fixed in 3.1.9 Patch available GHSA-x7xf-253v-x3w8
CPE configurations NVD · 10
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:apache:cxf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 3.0.11 | Vulnerable | Apache |
| cpe:2.3:a:apache:cxf:3.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1.0 | Vulnerable | Apache |
| cpe:2.3:a:apache:cxf:3.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1.1 | Vulnerable | Apache |
| cpe:2.3:a:apache:cxf:3.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1.2 | Vulnerable | Apache |
| cpe:2.3:a:apache:cxf:3.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1.3 | Vulnerable | Apache |
| cpe:2.3:a:apache:cxf:3.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1.4 | Vulnerable | Apache |
| cpe:2.3:a:apache:cxf:3.1.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1.5 | Vulnerable | Apache |
| cpe:2.3:a:apache:cxf:3.1.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1.6 | Vulnerable | Apache |
| cpe:2.3:a:apache:cxf:3.1.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1.7 | Vulnerable | Apache |
| cpe:2.3:a:apache:cxf:3.1.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.1.8 | Vulnerable | Apache |
- cpe:2.3:a:apache:cxf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 3.0.11 Vulnerable ·Apache
- cpe:2.3:a:apache:cxf:3.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1.0 Vulnerable ·Apache
- cpe:2.3:a:apache:cxf:3.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1.1 Vulnerable ·Apache
- cpe:2.3:a:apache:cxf:3.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1.2 Vulnerable ·Apache
- cpe:2.3:a:apache:cxf:3.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1.3 Vulnerable ·Apache
- cpe:2.3:a:apache:cxf:3.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1.4 Vulnerable ·Apache
- cpe:2.3:a:apache:cxf:3.1.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1.5 Vulnerable ·Apache
- cpe:2.3:a:apache:cxf:3.1.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1.6 Vulnerable ·Apache
- cpe:2.3:a:apache:cxf:3.1.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1.7 Vulnerable ·Apache
- cpe:2.3:a:apache:cxf:3.1.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1.8 Vulnerable ·Apache
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Apache CXF (Apache Software Foundation) Fixed in 3.0.12, 3.1.9
- Fix · GHSA-x7xf-253v-x3w8 org.apache.cxf:cxf-core (Maven) Fixed in 3.0.12 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-x7xf-253v-x3w8 org.apache.cxf:cxf-core (Maven) Fixed in 3.1.9 Advisory →
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2017:0868 Released 2017-04-03 · Red Hat rating ImportantRed Hat JBoss Fuse/A-MQ 6.3 R2 security and bug fix update
- Red Hat JBoss A-MQ 6.3
- Red Hat JBoss Fuse 6.3
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat JBoss BRMS 5 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 5 | Affected | — |
| Red Hat JBoss Fuse 6 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat JBoss SOA Platform 5 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat OpenShift Enterprise 2 | Affected | — |
| Red Hat JBoss A-MQ 6.3 | Fixed | RHSA-2017:0868 |
| Red Hat JBoss Fuse 6.3 | Fixed | RHSA-2017:0868 |
Not affected: 10 products
- Red Hat BPM Suite 6
- Red Hat JBoss BRMS 6
- Red Hat JBoss Data Grid 6
- Red Hat JBoss Data Virtualization 6
- Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 6
- Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 7
- Red Hat JBoss Fuse Service Works 6
- Red Hat JBoss Operations Network 3
- Red Hat JBoss Portal 6
- Red Hat Single Sign-On 7
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2016-8739
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-x7xf-253v-x3w8
References
Other 15
- [cxf-commits] 20200116 svn commit: r1055336 - in /websites/production/cxf/content: cache/main.pageCache security-advisories.data/CVE-2019-12423.txt.asc security-advisories.data/CVE-2019-17573.txt.asc security-advisories.html
- [cxf-commits] 20200319 svn commit: r1058035 - in /websites/production/cxf/content: cache/main.pageCache security-advisories.data/CVE-2019-17573.txt.asc security-advisories.html
- [cxf-commits] 20200401 svn commit: r1058573 - in /websites/production/cxf/content: cache/main.pageCache index.html security-advisories.data/CVE-2020-1954.txt.asc security-advisories.html
- [cxf-commits] 20201112 svn commit: r1067927 - in /websites/production/cxf/content: cache/main.pageCache security-advisories.data/CVE-2020-13954.txt.asc security-advisories.html
- [cxf-commits] 20210402 svn commit: r1073270 - in /websites/production/cxf/content: cache/main.pageCache security-advisories.data/CVE-2021-22696.txt.asc security-advisories.html
- [cxf-commits] 20210616 svn commit: r1075801 - in /websites/production/cxf/content: cache/main.pageCache index.html security-advisories.data/CVE-2021-30468.txt.asc security-advisories.html
- https://github.com/apache/cxf/commit/8e4970d9
- https://github.com/apache/cxf/commit/9deb2d17
- https://github.com/apache/cxf
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r36e44ffc1a9b365327df62cdfaabe85b9a5637de102cea07d79b2dbf@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rc774278135816e7afc943dc9fc78eb0764f2c84a2b96470a0187315c@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rd49aabd984ed540c8ff7916d4d79405f3fa311d2fdbcf9ed307839a6@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rec7160382badd3ef4ad017a22f64a266c7188b9ba71394f0d321e2d4@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rfb87e0bf3995e7d560afeed750fac9329ff5f1ad49da365129b7f89e@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rff42cfa5e7d75b7c1af0e37589140a8f1999e578a75738740b244bd4@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
More Apache Cxf vulnerabilities
- TI-2019-09264 Incorrect authorization in Apache CXF CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2020-10930 Apache CXF Reflected XSS in the services listing page via the styleSheetPath CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.1
- TI-2010-01990 Apache CXF 2.0.x before 2.0.13, 2.1.x before 2.1.10, and 2.2.x before 2.2.9, as used in… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2022-22907 Apache CXF SSRF Vulnerability CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-47481 Apache CXF: Unsafe deserialization of inbound JMS ObjectMessage CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2025-31053 Apache CXF: Untrusted JMS configuration can lead to RCE CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
Sources
- CVE-2016-8739 · CVE Program
- CVE-2016-8739 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-x7xf-253v-x3w8 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2016-8739 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences