CVE-2014-3596: Axis Improper Validation Of Certificates Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-r53v-vm87-f72c
Share
CWE-297
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2014-3596 is a MODERATE improper validation of certificates vulnerability (CWE-297: Improper Validation of Certificate with Host Mismatch) affecting Axis libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves improper validation of certificates in apache axis. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2014-3596 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2014-3596
GHSA Identifier GHSA-r53v-vm87-f72c
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-297: Improper Validation of Certificate with Host Mismatch
Affected Product Axis
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2014-3596

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-2014-3596, 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-297: Improper Validation of Certificate with Host Mismatch, where the product communicates with a host that provides a certificate, but the product does not properly ensure that the certificate is actually associated with that host. 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

The getCN function in Apache Axis 1.4 and earlier does not properly verify that the server hostname matches a domain name in the subject's Common Name (CN) or subjectAltName field of the X.509 certificate, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof SSL servers via a certificate with a subject that specifies a common name in a field that is not the CN field. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2012-5784.

CVE-2014-3596 Affected Axis Versions

2 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.axis:axis
maven/org.apache.axis/axis
Maven
≤ 1.4
axis:axis
maven/axis/axis
Maven
≤ 1.4

References

NVD — CVE-2014-3596 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-3596
Axis Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2020.html
Axis Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20200227173427/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/69295
Axis Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20160815194947/http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1030745
lists.apache.org/thread.html/de2af12... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/de2af12dcaba653d02b03235327ca4aa930401813a3cced8e151d29c@%3Cjava-dev.axis.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/de2af12... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/de2af12dcaba653d02b03235327ca4aa930401813a3cced8e151d29c%40%3Cjava-dev.axis.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/a308887... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/a308887782e05da7cf692e4851ae2bd429a038570cbf594e6631cc8d@%3Cjava-dev.axis.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/a308887... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/a308887782e05da7cf692e4851ae2bd429a038570cbf594e6631cc8d%40%3Cjava-dev.axis.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/8aa25c9... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/8aa25c99eeb0693fc229ec87d1423b5ed5d58558618706d8aba1d832@%3Cjava-dev.axis.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/8aa25c9... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/8aa25c99eeb0693fc229ec87d1423b5ed5d58558618706d8aba1d832%40%3Cjava-dev.axis.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/5e6c921... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/5e6c92145deddcecf70c3604041dcbd615efa2d37632fc2b9c367780@%3Cjava-dev.axis.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/5e6c921... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/5e6c92145deddcecf70c3604041dcbd615efa2d37632fc2b9c367780%40%3Cjava-dev.axis.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/44d4e88... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/44d4e88a5fa8ae60deb752029afe9054da87c5f859caf296fcf585e5@%3Cjava-dev.axis.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/44d4e88... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/44d4e88a5fa8ae60deb752029afe9054da87c5f859caf296fcf585e5%40%3Cjava-dev.axis.apache.org%3E
issues.apache.org/jira/browse/axis-29... WEB
https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/AXIS-2905
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/953... WEB
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/95377
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1129935
Axis Security Information SECURITY
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2014-3596
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2015:10... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015:1010
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2014:11... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2014:1193
linux.oracle.com/errata/elsa-2014-11... WEB
http://linux.oracle.com/errata/ELSA-2014-1193.html
Axis Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-06/msg00007.html
Axis Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-06/msg00022.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2014-11... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2014-1193.html
Axis Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/08/20/2

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2014-3596?
CVE-2014-3596 is a security vulnerability in Axis involving Improper Validation of Certificates in apache axis under CWE-297: Improper Validation of Certificate with Host Mismatch.
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-2014-3596?
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 CWE is associated with CVE-2014-3596?
CVE-2014-3596 is classified under CWE-297: Improper Validation of Certificate with Host Mismatch (The product communicates with a host that provides a certificate, but the product does not properly ensure that the certificate is actually associated with that host.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2014-3596?
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-r53v-vm87-f72c",
  "modified" : "2024-03-01T20:29:59Z",
  "published" : "2018-10-16T20:50:58Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2014-3596" ],
  "summary" : "Improper Validation of Certificates in apache axis",
  "details" : "The getCN function in Apache Axis 1.4 and earlier does not properly verify that the server hostname matches a domain name in the subject's Common Name (CN) or subjectAltName field of the X.509 certificate, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof SSL servers via a certificate with a subject that specifies a common name in a field that is not the CN field.  NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2012-5784.",
  "severity" : [ ],
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    },
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      }, {
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      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
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    },
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      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
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      }, {
        "last_affected" : "1.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2020.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20200227173427/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/69295"
  }, {
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  }, {
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  }, {
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  }, {
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  }, {
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  }, {
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/5e6c92145deddcecf70c3604041dcbd615efa2d37632fc2b9c367780@%3Cjava-dev.axis.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/5e6c92145deddcecf70c3604041dcbd615efa2d37632fc2b9c367780%40%3Cjava-dev.axis.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/44d4e88a5fa8ae60deb752029afe9054da87c5f859caf296fcf585e5@%3Cjava-dev.axis.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/AXIS-2905"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/95377"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1129935"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2014-3596"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://linux.oracle.com/errata/ELSA-2014-1193.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-06/msg00007.html"
  }, {
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  }, {
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  }, {
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    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/08/20/2"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-297" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-06-16T21:53:43Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2014-08-27T00:55:00Z"
  }
}