Vulnerabilities in pkg:maven/org.apache.santuario/xmlsec

PACKAGE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-xfrj-6vvc-3xm2
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Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-44483 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.5) apache santuario - xml security vulnerability (CWE-532: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File) affecting Xmlsec libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache santuario - xml security for java are vulnerable to private key disclosure. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.3.4, 2.2.6, 3.0.3.

8 Known Advisory Record(s)
Package Vulnerability Intelligence

pkg:maven/org.apache.santuario/xmlsec

8 Known Advisory Record(s)

Vulnerability advisories affecting package pkg:maven/org.apache.santuario/xmlsec. Select an advisory below to view technical details or fixes.

Advisory ID CVE / NVD Severity Summary
GHSA-xfrj-6vvc-3xm2 CVE-2023-44483 MODERATE Apache Santuario - XML Security for Java are vulnerable to private key disclosure
GHSA-w7cq-j9p9-hm3m CVE-2014-8152 MODERATE Improper Input Validation in Apache Santuario XML Security
GHSA-r237-w2w6-jq3p CVE-2013-2172 MODERATE Inefficient Algorithmic Complexity in Apache Santuario XML Security
GHSA-4p4w-6h54-g885 CVE-2013-4517 MODERATE Improper Input Validation in Apache Santuario XML Security
GHSA-8gwc-x7mg-7p7p CVE-2013-5823 MODERATE Apache XML Security For Java vulnerable to Infinite Loop
GHSA-8hfm-837h-hjg5 CVE-2009-0217 MODERATE Apache XML Security For Java vulnerable to authentication bypass by HMAC truncation
GHSA-j8wc-gxx9-82hx CVE-2021-40690 HIGH Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor in Apache Santuario
GHSA-4q98-wr72-h35w CVE-2019-12400 MODERATE Improper input validation in Apache Santuario XML Security for Java

CVE-2023-44483 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-44483
GHSA Identifier GHSA-xfrj-6vvc-3xm2
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.5
CWE Classification CWE-532: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File
Affected Product Xmlsec
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.5

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:H/I:N/A:N).

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 High (C:H)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2023-44483

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Xmlsec 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.santuario:xmlsec fixed: 2.3.4 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.santuario</groupId>
    <artifactId>xmlsec</artifactId>
    <version>2.3.4</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.santuario:xmlsec fixed: 2.2.6 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.santuario</groupId>
    <artifactId>xmlsec</artifactId>
    <version>2.2.6</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.santuario:xmlsec fixed: 3.0.3 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.santuario</groupId>
    <artifactId>xmlsec</artifactId>
    <version>3.0.3</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.santuario

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2023-44483, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

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

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Xmlsec in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.3.4), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.santuario 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-532: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File, where the product writes sensitive information to a log file. In Xmlsec, 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

All versions of Apache Santuario - XML Security for Java prior to 2.2.6, 2.3.4, and 3.0.3, when using the JSR 105 API, are vulnerable to an issue where a private key may be disclosed in log files when generating an XML Signature and logging with debug level is enabled. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 2.2.6, 2.3.4, or 3.0.3, which fixes this issue.

CVE-2023-44483 Affected Xmlsec Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.3.42.2.63.0.3
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.santuario:xmlsec
maven/org.apache.santuario/xmlsec
Maven
≥ 2.3.0
< 2.3.4
2.3.4
org.apache.santuario:xmlsec
maven/org.apache.santuario/xmlsec
Maven
< 2.2.6
2.2.6
org.apache.santuario:xmlsec
maven/org.apache.santuario/xmlsec
Maven
≥ 3.0.0
< 3.0.3
3.0.3

References

NVD — CVE-2023-44483 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-44483
Xmlsec Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/santuario-java
lists.apache.org/thread/vmqbp9mfxtrf... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread/vmqbp9mfxtrf0kmbnnmbn3h9j6dr9q55
santuario.apache.org/secadv.data/cve-202... WEB
https://santuario.apache.org/secadv.data/CVE-2023-44483.txt.asc?version=1&modificationDate=1697782758000&api=v2
Xmlsec Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20241108-0002
Xmlsec Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/10/20/5

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-44483?
CVE-2023-44483 is a security vulnerability in Xmlsec involving Apache Santuario - XML Security for Java are vulnerable to private key disclosure under CWE-532: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File.
Which Xmlsec versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.3.4, 2.2.6, 3.0.3 across affected packages: org.apache.santuario:xmlsec.
What version fixes CVE-2023-44483?
Upgrading to 2.3.4, 2.2.6, 3.0.3 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is xmlsec affected?
Yes, org.apache.santuario:xmlsec is affected in releases prior to 2.3.4, 2.2.6, 3.0.3. Upgrade your dependency to 2.3.4, 2.2.6, 3.0.3 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-44483?
CVE-2023-44483 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-44483?
CVE-2023-44483 is classified under CWE-532: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File (The product writes sensitive information to a log file.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2023-44483?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.santuario'. 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-xfrj-6vvc-3xm2",
  "modified" : "2025-11-04T16:46:02Z",
  "published" : "2023-10-20T12:31:04Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-44483" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Santuario - XML Security for Java are vulnerable to private key disclosure",
  "details" : "All versions of Apache Santuario - XML Security for Java prior to 2.2.6, 2.3.4, and 3.0.3, when using the JSR 105 API, are vulnerable to an issue where a private key may be disclosed in log files when generating an XML Signature and logging with debug level is enabled. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 2.2.6, 2.3.4, or 3.0.3, which fixes this issue.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.santuario:xmlsec"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.3.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.3.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.santuario:xmlsec"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.2.6"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.santuario:xmlsec"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.0.3"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-44483"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/santuario-java"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/vmqbp9mfxtrf0kmbnnmbn3h9j6dr9q55"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://santuario.apache.org/secadv.data/CVE-2023-44483.txt.asc?version=1&modificationDate=1697782758000&api=v2"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20241108-0002"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/10/20/5"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-532" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-10-20T22:59:19Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-10-20T10:15:12Z"
  }
}