Improper Authentication in Apache Karaf
In Apache Karaf version prior to 3.0.9, 4.0.9, 4.1.1, when the webconsole feature is installed in Karaf, it is available at .../system/console and requires authentication to access it. One part of the console is a Gogo shell/console that gives access to the command line console of Karaf via a Web browser, and when navigated to it is available at .../system/console/gogo. Trying to go directly to that URL does require authentication. And optional bundle that some applications use is the Pax Web Extender Whiteboard, it is part of the pax-war feature and perhaps others. When it is installed, the Gogo console becomes available at another URL .../gogo/, and that URL is not secured giving access to the Karaf console to unauthenticated users. A mitigation for the issue is to manually stop/uninstall Gogo plugin bundle that is installed with the webconsole feature, although of course this removes the console from the .../system/console application, not only from the unauthenticated endpoint. One could also stop/uninstall the Pax Web Extender Whiteboard, but other components/applications may require it and so their functionality would be reduced/compromised.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | org.apache.karaf:apache-karaf | < 3.0.9, >= 4.0.0, < 4.0.9, >= 4.1.0, < 4.1.1 | 3.0.9, 4.0.9, 4.1.1 |
References
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-11787
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-cq9c-55r7-455x
- https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/KARAF-4993
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/d9ba4c3104ba32225646879a057b75b54430f349c246c85469037d3c@%3Cdev.karaf.apache.org%3E
- http://karaf.apache.org/security/cve-2018-11787.txt
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-287- Platform
- Java / Kotlin (Maven)
- Package
org.apache.karaf:apache-karaf- Disclosed
- 07.01.2019
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 11:20
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-cq9c-55r7-455x - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: org.apache.karaf:apache-karaf
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Java / Kotlin (Maven)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 7
- First → latest
- 12.2018 12.2022
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 1
- High 2
- Medium 4
Disclosures per year
- 2018: 1
- 2019: 3
- 2020: 0
- 2021: 0
- 2022: 3
- 2023: 0
- 2024: 0
- 2025: 0
- 2026: 0
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