CVE-2023-40743: Axis Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
CRITICALCVE-2023-40743 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Axis libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache axis 1.x (eol) may allow rce when untrusted input is passed to getservice. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.
CVE-2023-40743 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 9.8
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:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
How to Fix CVE-2023-40743
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.
<dependency>
<groupId>org.apache.axis</groupId>
<artifactId>axis</artifactId>
<version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency><dependency>
<groupId>axis</groupId>
<artifactId>axis</artifactId>
<version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.axisHow to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2023-40743, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:
mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.axisAnalyze 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
CVE-2023-40743 Affected Axis Versions
2 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
org.apache.axis:axis
|
Maven |
≤ 1.4
|
|
|
axis:axis
|
Maven |
≤ 1.4
|
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2023-40743?
Which Axis versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2023-40743?
Is axis affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-40743?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-40743?
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2023-40743?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-rmqp-9w4c-gc7w",
"modified" : "2025-02-13T19:11:39Z",
"published" : "2023-09-05T15:30:25Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-40743" ],
"summary" : "Apache Axis 1.x (EOL) may allow RCE when untrusted input is passed to getService",
"details" : "When integrating Apache Axis 1.x in an application, it may not have been obvious that looking up a service through \"ServiceFactory.getService\" allows potentially dangerous lookup mechanisms such as LDAP. When passing untrusted input to this API method, this could expose the application to DoS, SSRF and even attacks leading to RCE.\n\nAs Axis 1 has been EOL we recommend you migrate to a different SOAP engine, such as Apache Axis 2/Java. As a workaround, you may review your code to verify no untrusted or unsanitized input is passed to \"ServiceFactory.getService\", or by applying the patch from https://github.com/apache/axis-axis1-java/commit/7e66753427466590d6def0125e448d2791723210 . 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.",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
}, {
"type" : "CVSS_V4",
"score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Maven",
"name" : "org.apache.axis:axis"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"last_affected" : "1.4"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Maven",
"name" : "axis:axis"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"last_affected" : "1.4"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-40743"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/apache/axis-axis1-java/commit/7e66753427466590d6def0125e448d2791723210"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/apache/axis-axis1-java"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/gs0qgk2mgss7zfhzdd6ftfjvm4kp7v82"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/10/msg00025.html"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20", "CWE-75" ],
"severity" : "CRITICAL",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2023-10-18T22:22:36Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2023-09-05T15:15:42Z"
}
}