XML External Entity Reference in Apache Karaf
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.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | org.apache.karaf.specs:org.apache.karaf.specs.java.xml | >= 4.2.0, < 4.2.2, < 4.1.7 | 4.2.2, 4.1.7 |
References
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-611- Platform
- Java / Kotlin (Maven)
- Package
org.apache.karaf.specs:org.apache.karaf.specs.java.xml- Disclosed
- 07.01.2019
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 11:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-92wj-x78c-m4fx - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: org.apache.karaf.specs:org.apache.karaf.specs.java.xml
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.
This is the only known vulnerability of this package.
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