CVE-2018-12544: Vertx core Vertx-core Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-qh3m-qw6v-qvhg
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CWE-611
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2018-12544 is a MODERATE vertx-core vulnerability (CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference) affecting Vertx core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves vertx-core. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.5.4.

CVE-2018-12544 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2018-12544
GHSA Identifier GHSA-qh3m-qw6v-qvhg
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
Affected Product Vertx core
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2018-12544

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Vertx 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.

io.vertx:vertx-core fixed: 3.5.4 
<dependency>
    <groupId>io.vertx</groupId>
    <artifactId>vertx-core</artifactId>
    <version>3.5.4</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=io.vertx

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2018-12544, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=io.vertx

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Vertx core in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 3.5.4), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=io.vertx 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 Vertx 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

In version from 3.5.Beta1 to 3.5.3 of Eclipse Vert.x, the OpenAPI XML type validator creates XML parsers without taking appropriate defense against XML attacks. This mechanism is exclusively when the developer uses the Eclipse Vert.x OpenAPI XML type validator to validate a provided schema.

CVE-2018-12544 Affected Vertx core Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.5.4
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
io.vertx:vertx-core
maven/io.vertx/vertx-core
Maven
≥ 3.5.0
< 3.5.4
3.5.4

References

NVD — CVE-2018-12544 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-12544
Vertx core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/vert-x3/vertx-web/issues/1021
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/vert-x3/vertx-web/commit/ac8692c618d6180a9bc012a2ac8dbec821b1a97
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2018:29... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2946
bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=539568
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-qh3m-qw6v-qvhg
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rd0e44e... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rd0e44e8ef71eeaaa3cf3d1b8b41eb25894372e2995ec908ce7624d26@%3Ccommits.pulsar.apache.org%3E

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2018-12544?
CVE-2018-12544 is a security vulnerability in Vertx core involving vertx-core under CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference.
Which Vertx core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.5.4 across affected packages: io.vertx:vertx-core.
What version fixes CVE-2018-12544?
Upgrading to 3.5.4 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is vertx-core affected?
Yes, io.vertx:vertx-core is affected in releases prior to 3.5.4. Upgrade your dependency to 3.5.4 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2018-12544?
CVE-2018-12544 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-2018-12544?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=io.vertx'. 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-qh3m-qw6v-qvhg",
  "modified" : "2024-03-04T20:46:26Z",
  "published" : "2018-10-17T16:20:32Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2018-12544" ],
  "summary" : "Moderate severity vulnerability that affects io.vertx:vertx-core",
  "details" : "In version from 3.5.Beta1 to 3.5.3 of Eclipse Vert.x, the OpenAPI XML type validator creates XML parsers without taking appropriate defense against XML attacks. This mechanism is exclusively when the developer uses the Eclipse Vert.x OpenAPI XML type validator to validate a provided schema.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "io.vertx:vertx-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.5.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.5.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-12544"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/vert-x3/vertx-web/issues/1021"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/vert-x3/vertx-web/commit/ac8692c618d6180a9bc012a2ac8dbec821b1a97"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2946"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=539568"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-qh3m-qw6v-qvhg"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rd0e44e8ef71eeaaa3cf3d1b8b41eb25894372e2995ec908ce7624d26@%3Ccommits.pulsar.apache.org%3E"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-611" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-06-16T21:51:57Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}