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Medium

Improper input validation in Apache Santuario XML Security for Java

  • Disclosed: 27.08.2019
  • Updated: 11.10.2026 11:21

In version 2.0.3 Apache Santuario XML Security for Java, a caching mechanism was introduced to speed up creating new XML documents using a static pool of DocumentBuilders. However, if some untrusted code can register a malicious implementation with the thread context class loader first, then this implementation might be cached and re-used by Apache Santuario - XML Security for Java, leading to potential security flaws when validating signed documents, etc. The vulnerability affects Apache Santuario - XML Security for Java 2.0.x releases from 2.0.3 and all 2.1.x releases before 2.1.4.

Affected software

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PlatformPackageVulnerable versionsFixed in
Java / Kotlin (Maven) org.apache.santuario:xmlsec >= 2.0.3, < 2.1.4 2.1.4

References

CVSS score 5.5/10
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
Weakness (CWE)
CWE-20
Platform
Java / Kotlin (Maven)
Package
org.apache.santuario:xmlsec
Disclosed
27.08.2019
Updated
11.10.2026 11:21

Sources and licenses

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-4q98-wr72-h35w - CC BY 4.0

Vulnerability history: org.apache.santuario:xmlsec

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
8
First → latest
08.2019 10.2023
Without a fix
0
Exploited in attacks
0

Severity breakdown

  • High 1
  • Medium 7

Disclosures per year

  1. Apache Santuario - XML Security for Java are vulnerable to private key disclosure
    Medium · 6.5 CVE-2023-44483 >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.4, < 2.2.6, >= 3.0.0, < 3.0.3 2.3.4, 2.2.6, 3.0.3
  2. Apache XML Security For Java vulnerable to Infinite Loop
    Medium CVE-2013-5823 >= 1.4.0, < 1.4.8, >= 1.5.0, < 1.5.3 1.4.8, 1.5.3
  3. Inefficient Algorithmic Complexity in Apache Santuario XML Security
    Medium CVE-2013-2172 >= 1.4.0, < 1.4.8, >= 1.5.0, < 1.5.5 1.4.8, 1.5.5
  4. Improper Input Validation in Apache Santuario XML Security
    Medium CVE-2013-4517 < 1.5.6 1.5.6
  5. Improper Input Validation in Apache Santuario XML Security
    Medium · 5.3 CVE-2014-8152 >= 2.0.0, < 2.0.3 2.0.3
  6. Apache XML Security For Java vulnerable to authentication bypass by HMAC truncation
    Medium CVE-2009-0217 >= 1.4.0, < 1.4.3 1.4.3
  7. Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor in Apache Santuario
    High · 7.5 CVE-2021-40690 >= 2.2.0, < 2.2.3, < 2.1.7 2.2.3, 2.1.7
  8. Improper input validation in Apache Santuario XML Security for Java this entry
    Medium · 5.5 CVE-2019-12400 >= 2.0.3, < 2.1.4 2.1.4

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