Apache Answer: Avatar URL leaked user email addresses
Priority LOW 31CWE-326Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Information disclosure
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Low · None · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-326.
Summary
Inadequate Encryption Strength vulnerability in Apache Answer. This issue affects Apache Answer: through 1.3.5. Using the MD5 value of a user's email to access Gravatar is insecure and can lead to the leakage of user email. The official recommendation is to use SHA256 instead. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 1.4.0, which fixes the issue.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00749 55th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed github.com/apache/incubator-answer (Go): 1.4.0
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apache | Apache Answer | up to 1.3.5 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
| — | github.com/apache/incubator-answer (Go) | before 1.4.0 | 1.4.0 | Patch available | GHSA-48cr-j2cx-mcr8 |
- Apache Answer VendorApache Affected up to 1.3.5 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
- github.com/apache/incubator-answer (Go) Vendor— Affected before 1.4.0 Fixed in 1.4.0 Patch available GHSA-48cr-j2cx-mcr8
Remediation
- Fix · GHSA-48cr-j2cx-mcr8 github.com/apache/incubator-answer (Go) Fixed in 1.4.0 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2024-40761
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-48cr-j2cx-mcr8
References
Advisory 13
- https://lists.apache.org/thread/mmrhsfy16qwrw0pkv0p9kj40vy3sg08x
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-40761
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/09/25/2
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/09/25/5
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/09/25/6
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/09/25/7
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/09/25/8
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/09/26/1
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/09/26/3
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/09/26/4
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/09/27/4
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/09/27/5
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/09/27/8
More Apache Answer vulnerabilities
- TI-2024-14967 Apache Answer: Pixel Flood Attack by uploading the large pixel file CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
- TI-2026-42802 Apache Answer: Residual Administrative API Key Access After Role or Account Revocation CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
- TI-2026-42790 Apache Answer: Unauthorized disclosure of deleted or pending answer content CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2026-36171 Apache Answer: Unauthenticated OAuth Email-Binding Account Takeover via Existing User Confirmation Flow CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2026-36100 Apache Answer: Denial of service via crafted Accept-Language header parsing CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2026-19940 Apache Answer: Revision API Improper Access Control leads to Information Disclosure CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
Sources
- CVE-2024-40761 · CVE Program
- CVE-2024-40761 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-48cr-j2cx-mcr8 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences