CVE-2012-5785: Axis2 Apache Axis2 Has Improper Input Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-wwq7-pxwc-p4rc
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CWE-20
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2012-5785 is a MODERATE apache axis2 has improper input vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Axis2 libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache axis2 has improper input validation. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.8.0.

CVE-2012-5785 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2012-5785
GHSA Identifier GHSA-wwq7-pxwc-p4rc
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
Affected Product Axis2
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2012-5785

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Axis2 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.axis2:axis2 fixed: 1.8.0 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.axis2</groupId>
    <artifactId>axis2</artifactId>
    <version>1.8.0</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.axis2:axis2-transport-http fixed: 1.8.0 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.axis2</groupId>
    <artifactId>axis2-transport-http</artifactId>
    <version>1.8.0</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.axis2

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2012-5785, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.axis2

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Axis2 in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.8.0), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.axis2 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 Axis2, 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

Apache Axis2/Java 1.7.9 and earlier does not 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 an arbitrary valid certificate.

CVE-2012-5785 Affected Axis2 Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.8.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.axis2:axis2
maven/org.apache.axis2/axis2
Maven
< 1.8.0
1.8.0
org.apache.axis2:axis2-transport-http
maven/org.apache.axis2/axis2-transport-http
Maven
< 1.8.0
1.8.0

References

NVD — CVE-2012-5785 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-5785
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/798... WEB
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/79830
Axis2 Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/axis-axis2-java-core
issues.apache.org/jira/browse/axis2-6... WEB
https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/AXIS2-6018
www.cs.utexas.edu/~shmat/shmat_ccs12.... WEB
http://www.cs.utexas.edu/~shmat/shmat_ccs12.pdf

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2012-5785?
CVE-2012-5785 is a security vulnerability in Axis2 involving Apache Axis2 has Improper Input Validation under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Which Axis2 versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.8.0 across affected packages: org.apache.axis2:axis2, org.apache.axis2:axis2-transport-http.
What version fixes CVE-2012-5785?
Upgrading to 1.8.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is axis2 affected?
Yes, org.apache.axis2:axis2 is affected in releases prior to 1.8.0. Upgrade your dependency to 1.8.0 or later.
Is axis2-transport-http affected?
Yes, org.apache.axis2:axis2-transport-http is affected in releases prior to 1.8.0. Upgrade your dependency to 1.8.0 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2012-5785?
CVE-2012-5785 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-2012-5785?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.axis2'. 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-wwq7-pxwc-p4rc",
  "modified" : "2025-12-04T22:13:34Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-17T01:38:56Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2012-5785" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Axis2 has Improper Input Validation",
  "details" : "Apache Axis2/Java 1.7.9 and earlier does not 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 an arbitrary valid certificate.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.axis2:axis2"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.8.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.axis2:axis2-transport-http"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.8.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-5785"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/79830"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/axis-axis2-java-core"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/AXIS2-6018"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.cs.utexas.edu/~shmat/shmat_ccs12.pdf"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-07-12T22:27:16Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2012-11-04T22:55:00Z"
  }
}