Remote class instantiation in Apache Axis 1.x via SOAP faults
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
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- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Fixed
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
All Apache Axis 1.x versions through 1.4 are affected. When a SOAP fault carries an exceptionName element, Axis loads the named class (CWE-470) and may instantiate it through its String constructor, which runs the class's static initializer. An unauthenticated remote attacker can trigger this, and with a suitable class on the application's classpath it leads to remote code execution, because service authentication handlers run after the fault is parsed.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
Description from the CNA
** UNSUPPORTED WHEN ASSIGNED ** Deserialization of an inbound SOAP fault in Apache Axis 1.x allows unauthenticated remote class instantiation. When a SOAP <Fault> carries a <detail><exceptionName> element, Axis loads the named class and, if a String <data> element is also present, instantiates it through its String constructor before checking that it is an AxisFault. Loading alone runs the class's static initializer. With a suitable class on the application's classpath this leads to remote code execution. The fault is parsed while the engine resolves the target service, before any per-service handler chain runs, so authentication handlers configured on a service do not protect against it. This affects all Apache Axis 1.x versions through 1.4. As Axis 1 has been EOL we recommend you migrate to a different SOAP engine, such as Apache Axis 2/Java. Alternatively you could use a build of Axis with the patch from https://github.com/apache/axis-axis1-java/commit/41f3b4e8d04e310ca81f86b92630ab2c11d608bd applied. The Apache Axis project does not expect to create an Axis 1.x release fixing this problem.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
The sources list no fixed version for Apache Axis 1.x (EOL). The Apache project recommends migrating to Apache Axis 2/Java, or using a build of Axis with the commit 41f3b4e8d04e310ca81f86b92630ab2c11d608bd applied. The Apache Axis project does not expect to release an Axis 1.x fix.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
Timeline
- 2026-11-06 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-90436
- 2026-11-06 Alias added: GHSA-988f-c54m-f8jj
References
More Apache vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-18529 Apache Tomcat: Potential RCE and/or information disclosure and/or information corruption with partial PUT KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2024-30292 Apache OFBiz: Confused controller-view authorization logic (forced browsing) KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2024-26062 Apache OFBiz: Unauthenticated endpoint could allow execution of screen rendering code KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2024-21190 Apache OFBiz: Path traversal leading to RCE KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2024-18186 Apache HugeGraph-Server: Command execution in gremlin KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2023-25106 Deserialization of untrusted data in Apache ActiveMQ KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
Sources
- CVE-2026-90436 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-90436 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-988f-c54m-f8jj · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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