Apache CXF TLS hostname verification does not work correctly with com.sun.net.ssl.*
It is possible to configure Apache CXF to use the com.sun.net.ssl implementation via 'System.setProperty("java.protocol.handler.pkgs", "com.sun.net.ssl.internal.www.protocol");'. When this system property is set, CXF uses some reflection to try to make the HostnameVerifier work with the old com.sun.net.ssl.HostnameVerifier interface. However, the default HostnameVerifier implementation in CXF does not implement the method in this interface, and an exception is thrown. However, in Apache CXF prior to 3.2.5 and 3.1.16 the exception is caught in the reflection code and not properly propagated. What this means is that if you are using the com.sun.net.ssl stack with CXF, an error with TLS hostname verification will not be thrown, leaving a CXF client subject to man-in-the-middle attacks.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf | >= 3.2.0, < 3.2.5, < 3.1.16 | 3.2.5, 3.1.16 |
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-transports-http | >= 3.2.0, < 3.2.5, < 3.1.16 | 3.2.5, 3.1.16 |
References
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-8039
- https://github.com/apache/cxf/commit/fae6fabf9bd7647f5e9cb68897a7d72b545b741b
- https://github.com/apache/cxf/commit/8ed6208f987ff72e4c4d2cf8a6b1ec9b27575d4
- https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2019-5072835.html
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2020.html
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2020.html
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rff42cfa5e7d75b7c1af0e37589140a8f1999e578a75738740b244bd4@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rfb87e0bf3995e7d560afeed750fac9329ff5f1ad49da365129b7f89e@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rec7160382badd3ef4ad017a22f64a266c7188b9ba71394f0d321e2d4@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rd49aabd984ed540c8ff7916d4d79405f3fa311d2fdbcf9ed307839a6@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rc774278135816e7afc943dc9fc78eb0764f2c84a2b96470a0187315c@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r36e44ffc1a9b365327df62cdfaabe85b9a5637de102cea07d79b2dbf@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/1f8ff31df204ad0374ab26ad333169e0387a5e7ec92422f337431866@%3Cdev.cxf.apache.org%3E
- https://github.com/apache/cxf
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-jc7r-v6fg-2gpf
- https://cxf.apache.org/security-advisories.data/CVE-2018-8039.txt.asc
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3817
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3768
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2643
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2428
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2425
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2424
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2423
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2279
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2277
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2276
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106357
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041199
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-755- Platform
- Java / Kotlin (Maven)
- Package
org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf, org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-transports-http- Disclosed
- 19.10.2018
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 12:21
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-jc7r-v6fg-2gpf - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-transports-http
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
- 3
- First → latest
- 10.2018 07.2024
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- High 1
- Medium 2
Disclosures per year
- 2018: 1
- 2019: 0
- 2020: 0
- 2021: 0
- 2022: 1
- 2023: 0
- 2024: 1
- 2025: 0
- 2026: 0
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Apache CXF TLS hostname verification does not work correctly with com.sun.net.ssl.* this entry
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