Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in Apache CXF JAX-RS
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.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | org.apache.cxf:cxf-core | < 3.0.12, >= 3.1.0, < 3.1.9 | 3.0.12, 3.1.9 |
References
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-8739
- https://github.com/apache/cxf/commit/8e4970d9
- https://github.com/apache/cxf/commit/9deb2d17
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:0868
- 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
- http://cxf.apache.org/security-advisories.data/CVE-2016-8739.txt.asc
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-611- Platform
- Java / Kotlin (Maven)
- Package
org.apache.cxf:cxf-core- Disclosed
- 13.05.2022
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 12:20
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-x7xf-253v-x3w8 - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: org.apache.cxf:cxf-core
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Java / Kotlin (Maven)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 14
- First → latest
- 05.2022 06.2026
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 2
- High 5
- Medium 7
Disclosures per year
- 2022: 10
- 2023: 0
- 2024: 0
- 2025: 2
- 2026: 2
-
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