CVE-2012-3451: Cxf Remote Web-service Operation Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-55j7-f5wf-43m4
CWE-20
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2012-3451 is a HIGH remote web-service operation execution vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Cxf libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves remote web-service operation execution in apache cxf. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.4.9, 2.5.5, 2.6.2.

CVE-2012-3451 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2012-3451
GHSA Identifier GHSA-55j7-f5wf-43m4
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
Affected Product Cxf
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2012-3451

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Cxf dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

org.apache.cxf:cxf fixed: 2.4.9
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.cxf</groupId>
    <artifactId>cxf</artifactId>
    <version>2.4.9</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.cxf:cxf fixed: 2.5.5
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.cxf</groupId>
    <artifactId>cxf</artifactId>
    <version>2.5.5</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.cxf:cxf fixed: 2.6.2
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.cxf</groupId>
    <artifactId>cxf</artifactId>
    <version>2.6.2</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.cxf

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2012-3451, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.cxf

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Cxf in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.4.9), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.cxf command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation, where the product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. In Cxf, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

Apache CXF before 2.4.9, 2.5.x before 2.5.5, and 2.6.x before 2.6.2 allows remote attackers to execute unintended web-service operations by sending a header with a SOAP Action String that is inconsistent with the message body.

CVE-2012-3451 Affected Cxf Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.4.92.5.52.6.2
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.cxf:cxf
Maven
< 2.4.9
2.4.9
org.apache.cxf:cxf
Maven
≥ 2.5.0
< 2.5.5
2.5.5
org.apache.cxf:cxf
Maven
≥ 2.6.0
< 2.6.2
2.6.2

References

NVD — CVE-2012-3451 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-3451
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/cxf/commit/7230648f96573820d5bfa82c92c637391b448897
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/cxf/commit/878fe37f0b09888a42005fedc725ce497b5a694a
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/cxf/commit/9c70abe28fbf2b4c4df0b93ed12295ea5a012554
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/cxf/commit/deeeaa95a861b355068ca6febc7aa02a4a8c51e5
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rff42cf... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rff42cfa5e7d75b7c1af0e37589140a8f1999e578a75738740b244bd4@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rff42cf... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rff42cfa5e7d75b7c1af0e37589140a8f1999e578a75738740b244bd4%40%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rfb87e0... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rfb87e0bf3995e7d560afeed750fac9329ff5f1ad49da365129b7f89e@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rfb87e0... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rfb87e0bf3995e7d560afeed750fac9329ff5f1ad49da365129b7f89e%40%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rec7160... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rec7160382badd3ef4ad017a22f64a266c7188b9ba71394f0d321e2d4@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rec7160... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rec7160382badd3ef4ad017a22f64a266c7188b9ba71394f0d321e2d4%40%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rd49aab... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rd49aabd984ed540c8ff7916d4d79405f3fa311d2fdbcf9ed307839a6@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rd49aab... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rd49aabd984ed540c8ff7916d4d79405f3fa311d2fdbcf9ed307839a6%40%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rc77427... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rc774278135816e7afc943dc9fc78eb0764f2c84a2b96470a0187315c@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rc77427... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rc774278135816e7afc943dc9fc78eb0764f2c84a2b96470a0187315c%40%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r36e44f... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r36e44ffc1a9b365327df62cdfaabe85b9a5637de102cea07d79b2dbf@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r36e44f... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r36e44ffc1a9b365327df62cdfaabe85b9a5637de102cea07d79b2dbf%40%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
Cxf Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/cxf
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/787... WEB
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/78734
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=851896
Cxf Security Information SECURITY
http://cxf.apache.org/cve-2012-3451.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2012-15... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-1591.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2012-15... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-1592.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2012-15... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-1594.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-02... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0256.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-02... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0257.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-02... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0258.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-02... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0259.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-07... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0726.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-07... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0743.html
svn.apache.org/viewvc WEB
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1368559

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2012-3451?
CVE-2012-3451 is a security vulnerability in Cxf involving Remote web-service operation execution in Apache CXF under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Which Cxf versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.4.9, 2.5.5, 2.6.2 across affected packages: org.apache.cxf:cxf.
What version fixes CVE-2012-3451?
Upgrading to 2.4.9, 2.5.5, 2.6.2 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is cxf affected?
Yes, org.apache.cxf:cxf is affected in releases prior to 2.4.9, 2.5.5, 2.6.2. Upgrade your dependency to 2.4.9, 2.5.5, 2.6.2 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2012-3451?
CVE-2012-3451 is classified under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation (The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2012-3451?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.cxf'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-55j7-f5wf-43m4",
  "modified" : "2022-07-13T21:28:21Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:09:21Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2012-3451" ],
  "summary" : "Remote web-service operation execution in Apache CXF",
  "details" : "Apache CXF before 2.4.9, 2.5.x before 2.5.5, and 2.6.x before 2.6.2 allows remote attackers to execute unintended web-service operations by sending a header with a SOAP Action String that is inconsistent with the message body.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
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      "name" : "org.apache.cxf:cxf"
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      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
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        "fixed" : "2.4.9"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
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      "name" : "org.apache.cxf:cxf"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
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    } ]
  }, {
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    },
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      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.6.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.6.2"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-3451"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/cxf/commit/7230648f96573820d5bfa82c92c637391b448897"
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    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0726.html"
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  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-07-13T21:28:21Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2012-09-24T17:55:00Z"
  }
}