CVE-2016-5003: Xmlrpc Apache XML-RPC Vulnerable To Deserialization Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-4gqp-296r-j5mq
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-502
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2016-5003 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) apache xml-rpc vulnerable to deserialization vulnerability (CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data) affecting Xmlrpc libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache xml-rpc vulnerable to deserialization of untrusted data. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2016-5003 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2016-5003
GHSA Identifier GHSA-4gqp-296r-j5mq
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data
Affected Product Xmlrpc
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

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 High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2016-5003

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Xmlrpc 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.xmlrpc:xmlrpc fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.xmlrpc</groupId>
    <artifactId>xmlrpc</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.xmlrpc

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2016-5003, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

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

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Xmlrpc 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.xmlrpc 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-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data, where the product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid. In Xmlrpc, 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 Apache XML-RPC (aka ws-xmlrpc) library 3.1.3, as used in Apache Archiva, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted serialized Java object in an <ex:serializable> element.

CVE-2016-5003 Affected Xmlrpc Versions

1 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.xmlrpc:xmlrpc
maven/org.apache.xmlrpc/xmlrpc
Maven
≤ 3.1.3

References

NVD — CVE-2016-5003 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-5003
Xmlrpc Security Information SECURITY
https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/01/24/2
Xmlrpc Security Information SECURITY
https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/01/16/1
Xmlrpc Security Information SECURITY
https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/07/12/5
Xmlrpc Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20200227235226/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91738
Xmlrpc Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20171111065719/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91736
Xmlrpc Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20160716070844/http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036294
Xmlrpc Security Information SECURITY
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202401-26
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/115... WEB
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/115043
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1508123
Xmlrpc Security Information SECURITY
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-5003
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2018:37... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3768
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2018:23... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2317
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2018:17... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:1784
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2018:17... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:1780
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2018:17... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:1779
0ang3el.blogspot.ru/2016/07/beware-of-w... WEB
https://0ang3el.blogspot.ru/2016/07/beware-of-ws-xmlrpc-library-in-your.html
Xmlrpc Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/07/12/5
Xmlrpc Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/01/16/1
Xmlrpc Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/01/24/2

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-5003?
CVE-2016-5003 is a security vulnerability in Xmlrpc involving Apache XML-RPC vulnerable to Deserialization of Untrusted Data under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data.
Which Xmlrpc versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: org.apache.xmlrpc:xmlrpc.
What version fixes CVE-2016-5003?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is xmlrpc affected?
Yes, org.apache.xmlrpc:xmlrpc is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2016-5003?
CVE-2016-5003 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2016-5003?
CVE-2016-5003 is classified under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data (The product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2016-5003?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.xmlrpc'. 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-4gqp-296r-j5mq",
  "modified" : "2023-02-08T17:58:05Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-14T01:53:10Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2016-5003" ],
  "summary" : "Apache XML-RPC vulnerable to Deserialization of Untrusted Data",
  "details" : "The Apache XML-RPC (aka ws-xmlrpc) library 3.1.3, as used in Apache Archiva, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted serialized Java object in an <ex:serializable> element.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.xmlrpc:xmlrpc"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "3.1.3"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-5003"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/01/24/2"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/01/16/1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/07/12/5"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20200227235226/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91738"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20171111065719/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91736"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20160716070844/http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036294"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202401-26"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/115043"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1508123"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-5003"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3768"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2317"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:1784"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:1780"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:1779"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://0ang3el.blogspot.ru/2016/07/beware-of-ws-xmlrpc-library-in-your.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/07/12/5"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/01/16/1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/01/24/2"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-502" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-02-08T17:58:05Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2017-10-27T18:29:00Z"
  }
}