CVE-2016-6812: Cxf core Improper Neutralization Of Input During Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-vw2c-5wph-v92r
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CVSS 6.1
CWE-79
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2016-6812 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.1) improper neutralization of input during vulnerability (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')) affecting Cxf core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves improper neutralization of input during web page generation in apache cxf. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.0.12, 3.1.9.

CVE-2016-6812 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2016-6812
GHSA Identifier GHSA-vw2c-5wph-v92r
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.1
CWE Classification CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Affected Product Cxf core
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.1

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:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).

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

How to Fix CVE-2016-6812

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Cxf core 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-core fixed: 3.0.12 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.cxf</groupId>
    <artifactId>cxf-core</artifactId>
    <version>3.0.12</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.cxf:cxf-core fixed: 3.1.9 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.cxf</groupId>
    <artifactId>cxf-core</artifactId>
    <version>3.1.9</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-2016-6812, 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 core in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 3.0.12), 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-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'), where the product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users. In Cxf core, 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 HTTP transport module in Apache CXF prior to 3.0.12 and 3.1.x prior to 3.1.9 uses FormattedServiceListWriter to provide an HTML page which lists the names and absolute URL addresses of the available service endpoints. The module calculates the base URL using the current HttpServletRequest. The calculated base URL is used by FormattedServiceListWriter to build the service endpoint absolute URLs. If the unexpected matrix parameters have been injected into the request URL then these matrix parameters will find their way back to the client in the services list page which represents an XSS risk to the client.

CVE-2016-6812 Affected Cxf core Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.0.123.1.9
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.cxf:cxf-core
maven/org.apache.cxf/cxf-core
Maven
< 3.0.12
3.0.12
org.apache.cxf:cxf-core
maven/org.apache.cxf/cxf-core
Maven
≥ 3.1.0
< 3.1.9
3.1.9

References

NVD — CVE-2016-6812 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-6812
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/cxf/commit/1be97cb13aef121b799b1be4d9793c0e8b925a12
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/cxf/commit/1f824d8039c7a42a4aa46f844e6c800e1143c7e7
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/cxf/commit/32e89366e2daa5670ac7a5c5c19f0bf9329a4c1e
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/cxf/commit/a30397b0
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2017:08... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:0868
Cxf core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/cxf
issues.apache.org/jira/browse/cxf-621... WEB
https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/CXF-6216
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r36e44f... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r36e44ffc1a9b365327df62cdfaabe85b9a5637de102cea07d79b2dbf@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rc77427... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rc774278135816e7afc943dc9fc78eb0764f2c84a2b96470a0187315c@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rd49aab... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rd49aabd984ed540c8ff7916d4d79405f3fa311d2fdbcf9ed307839a6@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rec7160... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rec7160382badd3ef4ad017a22f64a266c7188b9ba71394f0d321e2d4@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rfb87e0... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rfb87e0bf3995e7d560afeed750fac9329ff5f1ad49da365129b7f89e@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rff42cf... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rff42cfa5e7d75b7c1af0e37589140a8f1999e578a75738740b244bd4@%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
Cxf core Security Information SECURITY
http://cxf.apache.org/security-advisories.data/CVE-2016-6812.txt.asc

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-6812?
CVE-2016-6812 is a security vulnerability in Cxf core involving Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation in Apache CXF under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting').
Which Cxf core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.0.12, 3.1.9 across affected packages: org.apache.cxf:cxf-core.
What version fixes CVE-2016-6812?
Upgrading to 3.0.12, 3.1.9 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is cxf-core affected?
Yes, org.apache.cxf:cxf-core is affected in releases prior to 3.0.12, 3.1.9. Upgrade your dependency to 3.0.12, 3.1.9 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2016-6812?
CVE-2016-6812 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.1 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2016-6812?
CVE-2016-6812 is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') (The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2016-6812?
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 
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  "id" : "GHSA-vw2c-5wph-v92r",
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  }, {
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  }, {
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  }, {
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  }, {
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  }, {
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  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
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    "severity" : "MODERATE",
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}