CVE-2023-51441: Axis Apache Axis Improper Input Validation Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-hr2c-p8rh-238h
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CVSS 7.2
CWE-20 CWE-918
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-51441 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.2) apache axis improper input validation vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Axis libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache axis improper input validation vulnerability. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2023-51441 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-51441
GHSA Identifier GHSA-hr2c-p8rh-238h
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.2
CWE Classification CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
Affected Product Axis
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.2

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2023-51441

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Axis 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.axis:axis fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.axis</groupId>
    <artifactId>axis</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>
axis:axis fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>axis</groupId>
    <artifactId>axis</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</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.axis

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2023-51441, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

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

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

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.axis 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 Axis, 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

** UNSUPPORTED WHEN ASSIGNED ** Improper Input Validation vulnerability in Apache Axis allowed users with access to the admin service to perform possible SSRF. This issue affects Apache Axis through 1.3. As Axis 1 has been EOL, we recommend you migrate to a different SOAP engine, such as Apache Axis 2/Java. Alternatively you could use a build of Axis with the patch from https://github.com/apache/axis-axis1-java/commit/685c309febc64aa393b2d64a05f90e7eb9f73e06 applied. The Apache Axis project does not expect to create an Axis 1.x release fixing this problem, though contributors that would like to work towards this are welcome.

CVE-2023-51441 Affected Axis Versions

2 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.axis:axis
maven/org.apache.axis/axis
Maven
≤ 1.3
axis:axis
maven/axis/axis
Maven
≤ 1.3

References

NVD — CVE-2023-51441 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-51441
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/axis-axis1-java/commit/685c309febc64aa393b2d64a05f90e7eb9f73e06
Axis Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/axis-axis1-java
lists.apache.org/thread/8nrm5thop8f8... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread/8nrm5thop8f82pglx4o0jg8wmvy6d9yd

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-51441?
CVE-2023-51441 is a security vulnerability in Axis involving Apache Axis Improper Input Validation vulnerability under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Which Axis versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: org.apache.axis:axis, axis:axis.
What version fixes CVE-2023-51441?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is axis affected?
Yes, org.apache.axis:axis is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-51441?
CVE-2023-51441 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.2 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-51441?
CVE-2023-51441 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-2023-51441?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.axis'. 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-hr2c-p8rh-238h",
  "modified" : "2024-03-14T21:57:50Z",
  "published" : "2024-01-06T12:30:34Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-51441" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Axis Improper Input Validation vulnerability",
  "details" : "** UNSUPPORTED WHEN ASSIGNED ** Improper Input Validation vulnerability in Apache Axis allowed users with access to the admin service to perform possible SSRF.\nThis issue affects Apache Axis through 1.3.\n\nAs Axis 1 has been EOL, we recommend you migrate to a different SOAP engine, such as Apache Axis 2/Java. Alternatively you could use a build of Axis with the patch from https://github.com/apache/axis-axis1-java/commit/685c309febc64aa393b2d64a05f90e7eb9f73e06 applied. The Apache Axis project does not expect to create an Axis 1.x release \nfixing this problem, though contributors that would like to work towards this are welcome.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
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      "name" : "org.apache.axis:axis"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
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      }, {
        "last_affected" : "1.3"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "axis:axis"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
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      }, {
        "last_affected" : "1.3"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-51441"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/axis-axis1-java/commit/685c309febc64aa393b2d64a05f90e7eb9f73e06"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/axis-axis1-java"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/8nrm5thop8f82pglx4o0jg8wmvy6d9yd"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20", "CWE-918" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-01-08T15:49:03Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2024-01-06T12:15:42Z"
  }
}