CVE-2025-3986: Cas server core configuration metadata repository Apereo CAS Has Inefficient Regular Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-mvwq-hcrj-f5x9
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CVSS 4.3
CWE-400
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2025-3986 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.3) apereo cas has inefficient regular vulnerability (CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption) affecting Cas server core configuration metadata repository libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apereo cas has inefficient regular expression complexity. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2025-3986 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2025-3986
GHSA Identifier GHSA-mvwq-hcrj-f5x9
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 4.3
CWE Classification CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption
Affected Product Cas server core configuration metadata repository
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 4.3

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L).

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

How to Fix CVE-2025-3986

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Cas server core configuration metadata repository 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.apereo.cas:cas-server-core-configuration-metadata-repository fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apereo.cas</groupId>
    <artifactId>cas-server-core-configuration-metadata-repository</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.apereo.cas

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2025-3986, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apereo.cas

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Cas server core configuration metadata repository 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.apereo.cas 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-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption, where the product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource. In Cas server core configuration metadata repository, 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

A vulnerability was found in Apereo CAS 5.2.6. It has been declared as problematic. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file cas-5.2.6\core\cas-server-core-configuration-metadata-repository\src\main\java\org\apereo\cas\metadata\rest\CasConfigurationMetadataServerController.java. The manipulation of the argument Name leads to inefficient regular expression complexity. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.

CVE-2025-3986 Affected Cas server core configuration metadata repository Versions

1 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apereo.cas:cas-server-core-configuration-metadata-repository
maven/org.apereo.cas/cas-server-core-configuration-metadata-repository
Maven
≤ 5.2.6

References

NVD — CVE-2025-3986 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-3986
Cas server core configuration metadata repository Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apereo/cas
vuldb.com/ WEB
https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.306322
vuldb.com/ WEB
https://vuldb.com/?id.306322
vuldb.com/ WEB
https://vuldb.com/?submit.557473
wx.mail.qq.com/s WEB
https://wx.mail.qq.com/s?k=rk-m8GwRMVMcOjBY1a

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-3986?
CVE-2025-3986 is a security vulnerability in Cas server core configuration metadata repository involving Apereo CAS has inefficient regular expression complexity under CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption.
Which Cas server core configuration metadata repository versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: org.apereo.cas:cas-server-core-configuration-metadata-repository.
What version fixes CVE-2025-3986?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is cas-server-core-configuration-metadata-repository affected?
Yes, org.apereo.cas:cas-server-core-configuration-metadata-repository 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-2025-3986?
CVE-2025-3986 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.3 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2025-3986?
CVE-2025-3986 is classified under CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption (The product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2025-3986?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apereo.cas'. 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-mvwq-hcrj-f5x9",
  "modified" : "2025-04-28T20:54:43Z",
  "published" : "2025-04-27T21:34:48Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2025-3986" ],
  "summary" : "Apereo CAS has inefficient regular expression complexity",
  "details" : "A vulnerability was found in Apereo CAS 5.2.6. It has been declared as problematic. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file cas-5.2.6\\core\\cas-server-core-configuration-metadata-repository\\src\\main\\java\\org\\apereo\\cas\\metadata\\rest\\CasConfigurationMetadataServerController.java. The manipulation of the argument Name leads to inefficient regular expression complexity. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apereo.cas:cas-server-core-configuration-metadata-repository"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "5.2.6"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-3986"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apereo/cas"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.306322"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://vuldb.com/?id.306322"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://vuldb.com/?submit.557473"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://wx.mail.qq.com/s?k=rk-m8GwRMVMcOjBY1a"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-400" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-04-28T20:54:43Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2025-04-27T21:15:16Z"
  }
}