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TI-2018-08445 Aliases CVE-2018-11788GHSA-92wj-x78c-m4fx

XML external entity injection in Apache Karaf

Priority MEDIUM 52CWE-611Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 9 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA, GitHub and Red Hat.

Summary

Apache Karaf provides a features deployer, which allows users to "hot deploy" a features XML by dropping the file directly in the deploy folder. The features XML is parsed by XMLInputFactory class. Apache Karaf XMLInputFactory class doesn't contain any mitigation codes against XXE. This is a potential security risk as an user can inject external XML entities in Apache Karaf version prior to 4.1.7 or 4.2.2. It has been fixed in Apache Karaf 4.1.7 and 4.2.2 releases.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.07349 94th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial org.apache.karaf.specs:org.apache.karaf.specs.java.xml (Maven): 4.2.2, 4.1.7Red Hat: 9 without a fix

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
ApacheApache KarafAny Apache Karaf version prior to 4.1.7 and 4.2.2—No fix listedCNA
—org.apache.karaf.specs:org.apache.karaf.specs.java.xml (Maven)4.2.0 to before 4.2.24.2.2Patch availableGHSA-92wj-x78c-m4fx
—org.apache.karaf.specs:org.apache.karaf.specs.java.xml (Maven)before 4.1.74.1.7Patch availableGHSA-92wj-x78c-m4fx
  • Apache Karaf VendorApache Affected Any Apache Karaf version prior to 4.1.7 and 4.2.2 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
  • org.apache.karaf.specs:org.apache.karaf.specs.java.xml (Maven) Vendor— Affected 4.2.0 to before 4.2.2 Fixed in 4.2.2 Patch available GHSA-92wj-x78c-m4fx
  • org.apache.karaf.specs:org.apache.karaf.specs.java.xml (Maven) Vendor— Affected before 4.1.7 Fixed in 4.1.7 Patch available GHSA-92wj-x78c-m4fx

CPE configurations NVD · 3

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:apache:karaf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 4.1.7; 4.2.0 – 4.2.1VulnerableApache
cpe:2.3:a:apache:karaf:4.2.0:milestone1:*:*:*:*:*:*4.2.0 milestone1VulnerableApache
cpe:2.3:a:apache:karaf:4.2.0:milestone2:*:*:*:*:*:*4.2.0 milestone2VulnerableApache
  • cpe:2.3:a:apache:karaf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 4.1.7; 4.2.0 – 4.2.1 Vulnerable ·Apache
  • cpe:2.3:a:apache:karaf:4.2.0:milestone1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.2.0 milestone1 Vulnerable ·Apache
  • cpe:2.3:a:apache:karaf:4.2.0:milestone2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.2.0 milestone2 Vulnerable ·Apache

Remediation

  • Fix · GHSA-92wj-x78c-m4fx org.apache.karaf.specs:org.apache.karaf.specs.java.xml (Maven) Fixed in 4.2.2 Advisory →
  • Fix · GHSA-92wj-x78c-m4fx org.apache.karaf.specs:org.apache.karaf.specs.java.xml (Maven) Fixed in 4.1.7 Advisory →

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Fuse 7AffectedNo fix yet
Red Hat JBoss A-MQ 6AffectedNo fix planned: Will not fix
Red Hat JBoss Fuse 6AffectedNo fix planned: Will not fix
Red Hat JBoss Fuse Service Works 6AffectedNo fix planned: Will not fix
Red Hat OpenStack Platform 10 (Newton)AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat OpenStack Platform 13 (Queens)AffectedNo fix planned: Will not fix
Red Hat OpenStack Platform 14 (Rocky)AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat OpenStack Platform 8 (Liberty)AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat OpenStack Platform 9 (Mitaka)AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2018-11788
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-92wj-x78c-m4fx

References

Advisory 2

Other 3

  • TI-2022-19035 Apache Karaf: JDBC JAAS LDAP injection CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2026-61863 Missing authorization in Apache Karaf CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2026-61851 Apache Karaf: Path Traversal in Config Service Allows Manager-to-Admin Privilege Escalation CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2020-17076 An issue was discovered in Legion of the Bouncy Castle BC Java 1.65 and 1.66. CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
  • TI-2026-61846 Apache Karaf: OS Command Injection in Child-Instance Launch (instance:* / InstancesMBean) CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2018-08443 Improper privilege management in Apache Karaf CVSS 3.0HIGH 8.8
See all 17 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences