CVE-2015-0227: Wss4j Improper Access Control Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-6r5v-hp32-fjqw
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CWE-284
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2015-0227 is a MODERATE improper access control vulnerability (CWE-284: Improper Access Control) affecting Wss4j libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves improper access control in apache wss4j. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.6.17, 2.02.

CVE-2015-0227 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2015-0227
GHSA Identifier GHSA-6r5v-hp32-fjqw
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-284: Improper Access Control
Affected Product Wss4j
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2015-0227

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Wss4j 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.ws.security:wss4j fixed: 1.6.17 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.ws.security</groupId>
    <artifactId>wss4j</artifactId>
    <version>1.6.17</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.ws.security:wss4j fixed: 2.02 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.ws.security</groupId>
    <artifactId>wss4j</artifactId>
    <version>2.02</version>
</dependency>
wss4j:wss4j fixed: 1.6.17 
<dependency>
    <groupId>wss4j</groupId>
    <artifactId>wss4j</artifactId>
    <version>1.6.17</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.ws.security

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2015-0227, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.ws.security

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Wss4j in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.6.17), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.ws.security 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-284: Improper Access Control, where the product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor. In Wss4j, 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 WSS4J before 1.6.17 and 2.x before 2.0.2 allows remote attackers to bypass the requireSignedEncryptedDataElements configuration via a vectors related to "wrapping attacks."

CVE-2015-0227 Affected Wss4j Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.6.172.02
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.ws.security:wss4j
maven/org.apache.ws.security/wss4j
Maven
< 1.6.17
1.6.17
org.apache.ws.security:wss4j
maven/org.apache.ws.security/wss4j
Maven
≥ 2.0.0
< 2.02
2.02
wss4j:wss4j
maven/wss4j/wss4j
Maven
< 1.6.17
1.6.17

References

NVD — CVE-2015-0227 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-0227
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/100... WEB
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/100837
support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/dis... WEB
https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbgn03900en_us
Wss4j Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2019-5072835.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2015-07... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-0773.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2015-08... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-0846.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2015-08... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-0847.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2015-08... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-0848.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2015-08... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-0849.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2015-11... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-1176.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2015-11... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-1177.html
ws.apache.org/wss4j/advisories/cv... WEB
http://ws.apache.org/wss4j/advisories/CVE-2015-0227.txt.asc

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2015-0227?
CVE-2015-0227 is a security vulnerability in Wss4j involving Improper Access Control in Apache WSS4J under CWE-284: Improper Access Control.
Which Wss4j versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.6.17, 2.02 across affected packages: org.apache.ws.security:wss4j, wss4j:wss4j.
What version fixes CVE-2015-0227?
Upgrading to 1.6.17, 2.02 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is wss4j affected?
Yes, org.apache.ws.security:wss4j is affected in releases prior to 1.6.17, 2.02. Upgrade your dependency to 1.6.17, 2.02 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2015-0227?
CVE-2015-0227 is classified under CWE-284: Improper Access Control (The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2015-0227?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.ws.security'. 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
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-6r5v-hp32-fjqw",
  "modified" : "2026-04-17T13:26:03Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-14T02:57:28Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2015-0227" ],
  "summary" : "Improper Access Control in Apache WSS4J",
  "details" : "Apache WSS4J before 1.6.17 and 2.x before 2.0.2 allows remote attackers to bypass the requireSignedEncryptedDataElements configuration via a vectors related to \"wrapping attacks.\"",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.ws.security:wss4j"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.6.17"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.ws.security:wss4j"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.02"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "wss4j:wss4j"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.6.17"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-0227"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/100837"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbgn03900en_us"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2019-5072835.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-0773.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-0846.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-0847.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-0848.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-0849.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-1176.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-1177.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://ws.apache.org/wss4j/advisories/CVE-2015-0227.txt.asc"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-284" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-07-06T20:29:35Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2015-02-12T16:59:00Z"
  }
}