CVE-2026-44618: Cxf rt ws transfer Apache CXF's WS-Transfer Module Has Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-vmm5-fjgx-2jhp
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CVSS 5.3
CWE-611
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-44618 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.3) apache cxf's ws-transfer module has vulnerability (CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference) affecting Cxf rt ws transfer libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache cxf's ws-transfer module has an insecure xml parser configuration. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.2.1, 4.1.6, 3.6.11.

CVE-2026-44618 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-44618
GHSA Identifier GHSA-vmm5-fjgx-2jhp
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.3
CWE Classification CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
Affected Product Cxf rt ws transfer
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.3

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:L/I:N/A:N).

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

How to Fix CVE-2026-44618

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Cxf rt ws transfer 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.cxf:cxf-rt-ws-transfer fixed: 4.2.1 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.cxf</groupId>
    <artifactId>cxf-rt-ws-transfer</artifactId>
    <version>4.2.1</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-ws-transfer fixed: 4.1.6 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.cxf</groupId>
    <artifactId>cxf-rt-ws-transfer</artifactId>
    <version>4.1.6</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-ws-transfer fixed: 3.6.11 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.cxf</groupId>
    <artifactId>cxf-rt-ws-transfer</artifactId>
    <version>3.6.11</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.cxf

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2026-44618, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

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

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Cxf rt ws transfer in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 4.2.1), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.cxf 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-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, where the product processes an xml document that can contain xml entities with uris that resolve to documents outside of the intended sphere of control, causing the product to embed incorrect documents into its output. In Cxf rt ws transfer, 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

Insecure XML parser configuration in Apache CXF's WS-Transfer module may allow attackers to perform XXE attacks. Users are recommended to upgrade to versions 4.2.1, 4.1.6 or 3.6.11, which fix this issue.

CVE-2026-44618 Affected Cxf rt ws transfer Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
4.2.14.1.63.6.11
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-ws-transfer
maven/org.apache.cxf/cxf-rt-ws-transfer
Maven
≥ 4.2.0
< 4.2.1
All 1 versions
4.2.0
4.2.1
org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-ws-transfer
maven/org.apache.cxf/cxf-rt-ws-transfer
Maven
≥ 4.1.0
< 4.1.6
4.1.6
org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-ws-transfer
maven/org.apache.cxf/cxf-rt-ws-transfer
Maven
< 3.6.11
3.6.11

References

NVD — CVE-2026-44618 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-44618
Cxf rt ws transfer Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/cxf
lists.apache.org/thread/c7vb015f8ljm... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread/c7vb015f8ljmjl44030mn0yfq71f7sd7
Cxf rt ws transfer Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/05/22/8

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-44618?
CVE-2026-44618 is a security vulnerability in Cxf rt ws transfer involving Apache CXF's WS-Transfer module has an insecure XML parser configuration under CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference.
Which Cxf rt ws transfer versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 4.2.1, 4.1.6, 3.6.11 across affected packages: org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-ws-transfer.
What version fixes CVE-2026-44618?
Upgrading to 4.2.1, 4.1.6, 3.6.11 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is cxf-rt-ws-transfer affected?
Yes, org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-ws-transfer is affected in releases prior to 4.2.1, 4.1.6, 3.6.11. Upgrade your dependency to 4.2.1, 4.1.6, 3.6.11 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-44618?
CVE-2026-44618 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.3 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-44618?
CVE-2026-44618 is classified under CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference (The product processes an XML document that can contain XML entities with URIs that resolve to documents outside of the intended sphere of control, causing the product to embed incorrect documents into its output.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2026-44618?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.cxf'. 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-vmm5-fjgx-2jhp",
  "modified" : "2026-06-29T23:01:34Z",
  "published" : "2026-05-26T13:30:15Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-44618" ],
  "summary" : "Apache CXF's WS-Transfer module has an insecure XML parser configuration",
  "details" : "Insecure XML parser configuration in Apache CXF's WS-Transfer module may allow attackers to perform XXE attacks.\nUsers are recommended to upgrade to versions 4.2.1, 4.1.6 or 3.6.11, which fix this issue.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
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      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-ws-transfer"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
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      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "4.2.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.2.1"
      } ]
    } ],
    "versions" : [ "4.2.0" ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-ws-transfer"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "4.1.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.1.6"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-ws-transfer"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.6.11"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-44618"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/cxf"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/c7vb015f8ljmjl44030mn0yfq71f7sd7"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/05/22/8"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-611" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-06-29T23:01:34Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-05-22T13:16:22Z"
  }
}