Apache CXF: WS JSON request filter trusts metadata from an unvalidated first signature entry
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Low · Low · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-347.
Summary
A vulnerability in Apache CXF's JwsJsonContainerRequestFilter can be exploited to cause CXF to process metadata that was not authenticated by the accepted signature. This can bypass the application's assumption that accepted `Content-Type` or protected HTTP-header metadata came from a verified signature entry, and may steer downstream JAX-RS entity parsing or signed-header consistency checks. Users are recommended to upgrade to versions 4.2.2 or 4.1.7 or 3.6.12, which fix this issue.
Why it matters now
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 CXF | 4.2.0 to before 4.2.2; 4.0.0 to before 4.1.7; before 3.6.12 | 4.2.2, 4.1.7, 3.6.12 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-rs-security-jose-jaxrs (Maven) | 4.2.0 to before 4.2.2 | 4.2.2 | Patch available | GHSA-33j8-j763-4fv5 |
| — | org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-rs-security-jose-jaxrs (Maven) | before 4.1.7 | 4.1.7 | Patch available | GHSA-33j8-j763-4fv5 |
- Apache CXF VendorApache Affected 4.2.0 to before 4.2.2; 4.0.0 to before 4.1.7; before 3.6.12 Fixed in 4.2.2, 4.1.7, 3.6.12 Patch available CNA
- org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-rs-security-jose-jaxrs (Maven) Vendor— Affected 4.2.0 to before 4.2.2 Fixed in 4.2.2 Patch available GHSA-33j8-j763-4fv5
- org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-rs-security-jose-jaxrs (Maven) Vendor— Affected before 4.1.7 Fixed in 4.1.7 Patch available GHSA-33j8-j763-4fv5
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Apache CXF (Apache Software Foundation) Fixed in 4.2.2, 4.1.7, 3.6.12
- Fix · GHSA-33j8-j763-4fv5 org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-rs-security-jose-jaxrs (Maven) Fixed in 4.2.2 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-33j8-j763-4fv5 org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-rs-security-jose-jaxrs (Maven) Fixed in 4.1.7 Advisory →
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
Apache CXF 3.6.12, 4.1.7, 4.2.2
11 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 3 MEDIUM, 8 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2026-37318 Apache CXF: OAuth2: Inverted IP Binding Check Defeats Security ControlPriority MEDIUM 50
- TI-2026-37317 Apache CXF: OAuth2: Missing JWT Audience and Issuer Validation in Access Token ValidatorPriority MEDIUM 48
- TI-2026-36773 Apache CXF: XML External Entity (XXE) Injection in W3CMultiSchemaFactory and EndpointReferenceUtilsPriority MEDIUM 43
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat Fuse 7
- Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform Expansion Pack
- Red Hat JBoss Web Server 5
- Red Hat build of Apache Camel for Spring Boot 4
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-50634
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-33j8-j763-4fv5
References
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-2026-50634 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-50634 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-33j8-j763-4fv5 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-50634 · 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