High · published August 6, 2026
Apache CXF reads a top-level WSDL through its hardened StaxUtils path, which disables XML DTDs and external entities. However, any <wsdl:import> or <xsd:import> referenced from that top-level WSDL is handed off to WSDL4J, which does not disable DOCTYPE declarations or external entities. As a result, the protections applied to the top-level document do not extend to imported documents, leaving imported WSDL/XSD content vulnerable to XML External Entity (XXE) attacks. Users are recommended to upgrade to versions 4.2.3 or 4.1.8 or 3.6.12, which fix this issue.
| Product | Versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| apache/cxf | < 3.6.12 | 3.6.12 |
| apache/cxf | ≥ 4.0.0, < 4.1.8 | 4.1.8 |
| apache/cxf | ≥ 4.2.0, < 4.2.3 | 4.2.3 |