XXE in Apache Karaf

CVE-2018-11788

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.

Vulnerability class: XXE (XML External Entity)

EPSS: 0.073 (94.0th percentile) — read the EPSS interpretation.

CVSS v3 metric

CVSS v3 base score 9.8 (Critical). Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

Affected products

Weakness classification (CWE)

Public proof-of-concept exploits

References

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2018-11788?
CVE-2018-11788 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Apache Karaf, classified under Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference (XXE). CVSS score: 9.8/10. Published 2019-01-07.
How severe is CVE-2018-11788?
Critical severity. CVSS v3 base score is 9.8 out of 10.
Is CVE-2018-11788 known to be exploited?
7 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.