CVE-2014-3623: Wss4j Improper Authentication Vulnerability
MODERATECVE-2014-3623 is a MODERATE improper authentication vulnerability (CWE-287: Improper Authentication) affecting Wss4j libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves improper authentication in apache wss4j. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.6.17, 2.0.2.
CVE-2014-3623 at a Glance
How to Fix CVE-2014-3623
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Wss4j 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.ws.security</groupId>
<artifactId>wss4j</artifactId>
<version>1.6.17</version>
</dependency><dependency>
<groupId>org.apache.wss4j</groupId>
<artifactId>wss4j-ws-security-dom</artifactId>
<version>2.0.2</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.ws.securityHow to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2014-3623, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:
mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.ws.securityAnalyze the terminal output to locate any version of Wss4j in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.6.17), your application is affected.
Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.ws.security 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-287: Improper Authentication, where when an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct. In Wss4j, 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-2014-3623 Affected Wss4j Versions
2 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
org.apache.ws.security:wss4j
|
Maven |
< 1.6.17
|
1.6.17
|
|
org.apache.wss4j:wss4j-ws-security-dom
|
Maven |
≥ 2.0.0
< 2.0.2
|
2.0.2
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2014-3623?
Which Wss4j versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2014-3623?
Is wss4j affected?
Is wss4j-ws-security-dom affected?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2014-3623?
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2014-3623?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-99v3-9x35-c5vf",
"modified" : "2022-07-07T22:34:04Z",
"published" : "2022-05-13T01:09:20Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2014-3623" ],
"summary" : "Improper Authentication in Apache WSS4J",
"details" : "Apache WSS4J before 1.6.17 and 2.x before 2.0.2, as used in Apache CXF 2.7.x before 2.7.13 and 3.0.x before 3.0.2, when using TransportBinding, does not properly enforce the SAML SubjectConfirmation method security semantics, which allows remote attackers to conduct spoofing attacks via unspecified vectors.",
"severity" : [ ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Maven",
"name" : "org.apache.ws.security:wss4j"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "1.6.17"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Maven",
"name" : "org.apache.wss4j:wss4j-ws-security-dom"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "2.0.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "2.0.2"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-3623"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/97754"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/WSS-511"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r36e44ffc1a9b365327df62cdfaabe85b9a5637de102cea07d79b2dbf@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rc774278135816e7afc943dc9fc78eb0764f2c84a2b96470a0187315c@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rd49aabd984ed540c8ff7916d4d79405f3fa311d2fdbcf9ed307839a6@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rec7160382badd3ef4ad017a22f64a266c7188b9ba71394f0d321e2d4@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rfb87e0bf3995e7d560afeed750fac9329ff5f1ad49da365129b7f89e@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rff42cfa5e7d75b7c1af0e37589140a8f1999e578a75738740b244bd4@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-0236.html"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-0675.html"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-0850.html"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-0851.html"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "http://seclists.org/oss-sec/2014/q4/437"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-287" ],
"severity" : "MODERATE",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2022-07-07T22:34:04Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2014-10-30T14:55:00Z"
}
}