Apache Software Foundation Apache CXF: Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions
Apache Software Foundation · Apache CXF
8.1HighCVSS 3.0
Recommended action
Within 7 days
High technical severity; prioritise exposed affected systems while verifying vendor guidance.
Patch available
Optional official sources
National CERT insights ?CERT means Computer Emergency Response Team; CSIRT is the closely related term Computer Security Incident Response Team.
Select the national-authority views to include. The exact source language is shown on each matched advisory. Your choice is remembered on this device and encoded in the shareable URL.
Official European source
ENISA European Vulnerability Database
Official EUVD identifiers, advisory evidence and known-exploited context. Missing fields are not treated as evidence of low risk.
1 current
ENISA EUVD identifier
EUVD-2018-0630
No EUVD known-exploited evidence
ENISA has published the identifier mapping but no EUVD description has been stored yet.
EUVD state
Present in the current official mapping
Known exploitation
Not present in the current ENISA EUVD known-exploited dataset. This is not proof of no exploitation.
ENISA score
Not supplied in the stored EUVD record
Advisory evidence
No linked advisory details stored yet
Recommended actionWithin 7 days
High technical severity; prioritise exposed affected systems while verifying vendor guidance.
Patch available
01
What, why and how
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.
What
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.
Why
The product does not handle or incorrectly handles an exceptional condition.
How
An attacker operating through a network path may attempt exploitation without authentication or user interaction. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.
What
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.
Why
The product does not handle or incorrectly handles an exceptional condition.
How
An attacker operating through a network path may attempt exploitation without authentication or user interaction. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.
02
Exploit reality and attack path
CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.
Observed exploitation ?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.No confirmed evidence
No CISA KEV match was present at the last successful refresh. This means no confirmation from that source, not proof of no exploitation.
Public PoC / exploit material ?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.None recorded
No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.
Likely attack path
a network path → Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions → cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor
Attack surface
Network
Privileges required
None: unauthenticated exploitation is possible
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
High: exploitation depends on specific conditions
Security boundary
Unchanged: impact remains within the vulnerable component's security authority
Weakness ?CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness.
CWE-755: Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions. The product does not handle or incorrectly handles an exceptional condition.
CVSS vector ?CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Common Vulnerability Scoring System 3.0: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.
AVNetworkAttack vector: The vulnerable component can be reached over a network.ACHighAttack complexity: Successful exploitation depends on specific conditions outside the attacker's direct control.PRNonePrivileges required: The attacker does not need an account or existing privileges.UINoneUser interaction: No action by another user is required.SUnchangedScope: The security impact remains within the vulnerable component's authority.CHighConfidentiality impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.IHighIntegrity impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.AHighAvailability impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.
Post-exploitation / living off the land
No specific living-off-the-land technique is confirmed in the structured sources. Monitor normal administration tools for activity inconsistent with the affected service's baseline.
NetworkUnauthenticatedCWE-755
A
Official authority intelligence
Only matched European and national findings are included. Language selectors and unavailable sources are omitted.
ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2018-0630Official EUVD mapping
0 linked advisory records.
Official EUVD record ↗BSI · German · WID-SEC-2026-0180Dell Data Protection Advisor: Mehrere Schwachstellen
Ein Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in Dell Data Protection Advisor ausnutzen, um beliebigen Code auszuführen, einen Denial-of-Service-Zustand zu erzeugen, Sicherheitsmaßnahmen zu umgehen und nicht näher spezifizierte Angriffe zu starten.
Official advisory ↗BSI · German · WID-SEC-2023-1594IBM Tivoli Network Manager: Mehrere Schwachstellen
Ein entfernter, anonymer, authentisierter oder lokaler Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in IBM Tivoli Network Manager ausnutzen, um beliebigen Code auszuführen, Sicherheitsmaßnahmen zu umgehen, vertrauliche Informationen offenzulegen, einen Denial-of-Service-Zustand herbeizuführen, seine Privilegien auszuweiten, Daten zu manipulieren, nicht spezifizierte Auswirkungen zu verursachen und einen Cross-Site-Scripting-Angriff durchzuführen.
Official advisory ↗CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2019-AVI-165Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits IBM
De multiples vulnérabilités ont été découvertes dans les produits IBM.
Certaines d'entre elles permettent à un attaquant de provoquer une
exécution de code arbitraire à distance, un déni de service à distance
et un contournement de la politique de sécurité.
Official advisory ↗CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2019-AVI-138Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits IBM
De multiples vulnérabilités ont été découvertes dans les produits IBM.
Certaines d'entre elles permettent à un attaquant de provoquer un déni
de service à distance, un contournement de la politique de sécurité et
une atteinte à l'intégrité des données.
Official advisory ↗CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2019-AVI-135Vulnérabilité dans IBM WebSphere Application Server
Une vulnérabilité a été découverte dans IBM WebSphere Application
Server. Elle permet à un attaquant de provoquer une atteinte à
l'intégrité des données et une atteinte à la confidentialité des
données.
Official advisory ↗CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2018-AVI-589Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits IBM
.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-1957
Référence CVE CVE-2018-2964
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-2964
Référence CVE CVE-2018-2973
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-2973
Référence CVE CVE-2018-3139
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-3139
Référence CVE CVE-2018-3180
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-3180
Référence CVE CVE-2018-3620
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-3620
Référence CVE CVE-2018-3721
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-3721
Référence CVE CVE-2018-6554
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-6554
Référence CVE CVE-2018-8013
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-8013
Référence CVE CVE-2018-8039
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-8039
Référence CVE CVE-2018-9363
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-9363
Référence CVE CVE-2018-9516
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-9516
Gestion détaillée du document
le 10 décembre 2018
Version initiale
le 11 décembre 2018
Ajout de deux bulletins de sécurité IBM Lotus Protector
Alertes
Avis
Bulletins d’actualités
Mentions légales
Conditions générales
À propos
Contact
cyber.gouv.fr
service-public.fr
legifrance.gouv.fr
info.gouv.fr
france.fr
info.gouv.fr/risques
Premier Ministre / Secrétariat Général de la Défense et de la Sécurité Nationale / Agence nationale de la
sécurité des syst
Official advisory ↗JVN iPedia · Japanese · JVNDB-2018-008128Apache CXF におけるセキュリティ機能に関する脆弱性
Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.
Status ?Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change.
Review the linked authoritative reference and apply the recorded fixed release appropriate to the affected product branch.
Workaround
No verified workaround is recorded. If business-safe, reduce exposure to the affected interface and allow only trusted sources until authoritative guidance is available.
04
Evidence and provenance
Published 2 Jul 2018 · Last source change 17 Sept 2024, 04:04 UTC · CWE-755 · Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions
CVE recordCVE.org · 5.1
CVSS sourceNIST NVD
EPSS source ?The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.FIRST · tracked since 2026-09-01
European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2018-0630
Product sourceCNA
Remediation sourceCVE/CNA references
CWE sourceNIST NVD
NVD statusNVD modified after enrichment
Core structured fields are present and their contributing authorities are shown above.
Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
Before
prior to 3.1.16; 3.2.x prior to 3.2.5 · Fixed: No fixed version is explicitly recorded in the structured CVE data.
After
prior to 3.1.16; 3.2.x prior to 3.2.5 · Fixed: An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
CVE
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
CVSS
Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
EPSS
Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
CWE
Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
CNA
CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
CISA ADP
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
NVD
National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
CERT / CSIRT
A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
PoC
Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
CSAF
Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
LoTL
Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.
CVE-2018-8039: Apache Software Foundation Apache CXF: Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions | BlackTree