CVE-2016-8739
Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in Apache CXF JAX-RS
The JAX-RS module in Apache CXF prior to 3.0.12 and 3.1.x prior to 3.1.9 provides a number of Atom JAX-RS MessageBodyReaders. These readers use Apache Abdera Parser which expands XML entities by default which represents a major XXE risk.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
The JAX-RS module in Apache CXF prior to 3.0.12 and 3.1.x prior to 3.1.9 provides a number of Atom JAX-RS MessageBodyReaders. These readers use Apache Abdera Parser which expands XML entities by default which represents a major XXE risk.
- Record
CVE-2016-8739- CVSS 3.0
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - CVSS 2.0
- 7.8 High
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-611
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
The JAX-RS module in Apache CXF prior to 3.0.12 and 3.1.x prior to 3.1.9 provides a number of Atom JAX-RS MessageBodyReaders. These readers use Apache Abdera Parser which expands XML entities by default which represents a major XXE risk.
- Record
CVE-2016-8739- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2022-5744 No score
The JAX-RS module in Apache CXF prior to 3.0.12 and 3.1.x prior to 3.1.9 provides a number of Atom JAX-RS MessageBodyReaders. These readers use Apache Abdera Parser which expands XML entities by default which represents a major XXE risk.
- Record
EUVD-2022-5744- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-x7xf-253v-x3w8
Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in Apache CXF JAX-RS
The JAX-RS module in Apache CXF prior to 3.0.12 and 3.1.x prior to 3.1.9 provides a number of Atom JAX-RS MessageBodyReaders. These readers use Apache Abdera Parser which expands XML entities by default which represents a major XXE risk.
- Record
GHSA-x7xf-253v-x3w8- CVSS 3.0
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-611
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
The JAX-RS module in Apache CXF prior to 3.0.12 and 3.1.x prior to 3.1.9 provides a number of Atom JAX-RS MessageBodyReaders. These readers use Apache Abdera Parser which expands XML entities by default which represents a major XXE risk.
- Record
CVE-2016-8739- CVSS 3.0
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-x7xf-253v-x3w8
Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in Apache CXF JAX-RS
The JAX-RS module in Apache CXF prior to 3.0.12 and 3.1.x prior to 3.1.9 provides a number of Atom JAX-RS MessageBodyReaders. These readers use Apache Abdera Parser which expands XML entities by default which represents a major XXE risk.
- Record
GHSA-x7xf-253v-x3w8- CVSS 3.0
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-611
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
org.apache.cxf:cxf-coreMaven |
through 3.0.11 | 3.0.12 |
org.apache.cxf:cxf-coreMaven |
3.1.0 to 3.1.8 | 3.1.9 |
org.apache.cxf:cxf-coreMaven |
before 3.0.12, plus listed versions 3.0.03.0.0-milestone13.0.0-milestone23.0.13.0.10 Show 9 moreShow less3.0.113.0.23.0.33.0.43.0.53.0.63.0.73.0.83.0.9 |
3.0.12 |
org.apache.cxf:cxf-coreMaven |
3.1.0 up to 3.1.9, plus listed versions 3.1.13.1.23.1.33.1.43.1.53.1.63.1.73.1.8 |
3.1.9 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2016-8739 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.5) in Apache Cxf, published August 10, 2017. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 7.32%, the 94th percentile. Fixed in org.apache.cxf:cxf-core 3.0.12.
References
securityfocus.com/bid/97579
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:0868
securitytracker.com/id/1037544
cxf.apache.org/security-advisories.data/CVE-2016-8739.txt.asc
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rc774278135816e7afc943dc9fc78eb0764f2c84a2b96470a0187315c%40%3Ccommits.cxf.apache.org%3E
Show 15 moreShow less
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-8739
github.com/apache/cxf/commit/8e4970d9