There's a vulnerability within the Apache Xerces Java (XercesJ) XML parser when handling specially crafted XML document payloads. This causes the XercesJ XML parser to wait in an infinite loop, which may sometimes consume system resources for prolonged duration. This vulnerability is present within XercesJ version 2.12.1 and the previous versions.
The severity level of this vulnerability is classified as medium, with a CVSS score of 6.5. This indicates that while the vulnerability is not critical, it can still pose significant risks to systems using the affected software. Organizations should prioritize addressing this vulnerability in their patch cycle.
Risk to organizations includes potential resource exhaustion, leading to application downtime or degraded performance. Given that this vulnerability is network-exploitable and requires user interaction, attackers may leverage it to disrupt operations if not remediated.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability. Regular updates and patches are crucial for maintaining security in any deployed application.
This vulnerability has not been reported as actively exploited in the wild, but the potential impact warrants immediate attention from security teams.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability is characterized by an infinite loop within the Apache Xerces Java (XercesJ) XML parser when processing specially crafted XML payloads. The CVSS score of 6.5 reflects a medium severity, indicating significant impact on availability, as it can lead to high resource consumption.
Affected products include Apache XercesJ version 2.12.1 and all prior versions. The vulnerability can be classified under CWE-835, indicating excessive resource consumption.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in how the XercesJ XML parser handles certain XML document payloads. When encountering specially crafted XML, the parser enters an infinite loop, consuming system resources and potentially leading to application denial of service.
The attack vector is network-based, meaning that an attacker needs to send a malicious XML document to exploit this vulnerability. The attack complexity is low, as it does not require advanced skills to craft the exploit. No privileges are required, and user interaction is necessary for the payload to be processed.
The impact on confidentiality and integrity is none; however, the availability impact is high, as the infinite loop can lead to resource exhaustion.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Real-world deployment of this vulnerability presents a risk of significant operational disruption. The potential for resource exhaustion means that organizations utilizing the Apache XercesJ parser could face application downtime or degraded user experiences.
Organizations should assess their use of affected software and prioritize remediation efforts. The blast radius for this vulnerability can be broad, impacting any system relying on the XercesJ parser.
Given the medium CVSS score and the fact that it is not actively exploited, organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle. Continuous monitoring and regular updates are essential for maintaining robust security.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerability affects Apache XercesJ versions prior to 2.12.1. Organizations using these versions should upgrade to the latest version to mitigate the risk.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should immediately update to the latest version of Apache XercesJ to remediate this vulnerability. Configuration hardening can also help mitigate potential impacts. For ongoing security assurance, organizations should consider engaging in continuous security testing, including continuous penetration testing to validate the effectiveness of their security measures.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation attempts, organizations should monitor for unusual resource usage patterns and application performance metrics. Additionally, reviewing logs for any anomalies during XML parsing can assist in identifying attempted exploitations.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of this vulnerability lies in the importance of secure XML parsing practices. As XML continues to be a widely used data format, vulnerabilities in parsers can lead to serious resource management issues. Security teams should learn from this incident and ensure that all libraries used for XML parsing are regularly updated and audited for vulnerabilities.
Organizations are advised to review their dependency management practices and ensure that security considerations are integrated into their development processes. For more information on best practices, organizations can refer to our vulnerability management program to enhance their security posture.
Implementing a proactive security strategy that includes regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation from similar vulnerabilities in the future.
Additionally, for insights on penetration testing methodologies, organizations can access our penetration testing methodology guide.
Security teams may also benefit from reviewing data on trends in vulnerability exposure and severity. For a comprehensive analysis, refer to our 2025 vulnerability exposure severity trends report.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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