CVE-2026-42253: Apache activemq Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-8wm6-6fqh-phmc
CVSS 6.1
CWE-79
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-42253 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.1) cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')) affecting Apache activemq libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache activemq, apache activemq web have a cross-site scripting issue. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 5.19.7, 6.2.6.

CVE-2026-42253 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-42253
GHSA Identifier GHSA-8wm6-6fqh-phmc
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.1
CWE Classification CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Affected Product Apache activemq
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.1

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction Required (UI:R)
Scope Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2026-42253

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Apache activemq 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.activemq:apache-activemq fixed: 5.19.7
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.activemq</groupId>
    <artifactId>apache-activemq</artifactId>
    <version>5.19.7</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.activemq:apache-activemq fixed: 6.2.6
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.activemq</groupId>
    <artifactId>apache-activemq</artifactId>
    <version>6.2.6</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.activemq:activemq-web fixed: 5.19.7
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.activemq</groupId>
    <artifactId>activemq-web</artifactId>
    <version>5.19.7</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.activemq:activemq-web fixed: 6.2.6
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.activemq</groupId>
    <artifactId>activemq-web</artifactId>
    <version>6.2.6</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.activemq

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2026-42253, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

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

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Apache activemq in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 5.19.7), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.activemq 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-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'), where the product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users. In Apache activemq, 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

Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Apache ActiveMQ, Apache ActiveMQ Web. The MessageServlet in the ActiveMQ web console API copies every JMS message property into an HTTP response header without any validation. This can allow overwriting and injecting security headers by setting them on JMS messages that are returned by the servlet. This issue affects Apache ActiveMQ: before 5.19.7, from 6.0.0 before 6.2.6; Apache ActiveMQ Web: before 5.19.7, from 6.0.0 before 6.2.6. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 5.19.7 or 6.2.6, which fixes the issue. The MessageServlet has now been deprecated and disabled by default.

CVE-2026-42253 Affected Apache activemq Versions

4 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
5.19.76.2.6
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.activemq:apache-activemq
Maven
< 5.19.7
5.19.7
org.apache.activemq:apache-activemq
Maven
≥ 6.0.0
< 6.2.6
6.2.6
org.apache.activemq:activemq-web
Maven
< 5.19.7
5.19.7
org.apache.activemq:activemq-web
Maven
≥ 6.0.0
< 6.2.6
6.2.6

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-42253?
CVE-2026-42253 is a security vulnerability in Apache activemq involving Apache ActiveMQ, Apache ActiveMQ Web have a Cross-site Scripting issue under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting').
Which Apache activemq versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 5.19.7, 6.2.6 across affected packages: org.apache.activemq:apache-activemq, org.apache.activemq:activemq-web.
What version fixes CVE-2026-42253?
Upgrading to 5.19.7, 6.2.6 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is apache-activemq affected?
Yes, org.apache.activemq:apache-activemq is affected in releases prior to 5.19.7, 6.2.6. Upgrade your dependency to 5.19.7, 6.2.6 or later.
Is activemq-web affected?
Yes, org.apache.activemq:activemq-web is affected in releases prior to 5.19.7, 6.2.6. Upgrade your dependency to 5.19.7, 6.2.6 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-42253?
CVE-2026-42253 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.1 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-42253?
CVE-2026-42253 is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') (The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2026-42253?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.activemq'. 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-8wm6-6fqh-phmc",
  "modified" : "2026-07-09T20:51:24Z",
  "published" : "2026-06-01T09:31:14Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-42253" ],
  "summary" : "Apache ActiveMQ, Apache ActiveMQ Web have a Cross-site Scripting issue",
  "details" : "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Apache ActiveMQ, Apache ActiveMQ Web.\n\nThe MessageServlet in the ActiveMQ web console API copies every JMS message\nproperty into an HTTP response header without any validation. This can allow overwriting and injecting security headers by setting them on JMS messages that are returned by the servlet.\n\nThis issue affects Apache ActiveMQ: before 5.19.7, from 6.0.0 before 6.2.6; Apache ActiveMQ Web: before 5.19.7, from 6.0.0 before 6.2.6.\n\nUsers are recommended to upgrade to version 5.19.7 or 6.2.6, which fixes the issue. The MessageServlet has now been deprecated and disabled by default.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.activemq:apache-activemq"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "5.19.7"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.activemq:apache-activemq"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "6.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "6.2.6"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.activemq:activemq-web"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "5.19.7"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.activemq:activemq-web"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "6.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "6.2.6"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-42253"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/activemq"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/j9vmlc410ht5f28fc98gx75jcbq62j00"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/05/31/17"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-79" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-07-09T20:51:24Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-06-01T09:16:18Z"
  }
}