CVE-2026-89238

Apache WSS4J: WSS4J EncryptedHeader child confusion causing wrong protected-header selection

9.1 Critical

WSS4J EncryptedHeader child confusion could promote an attacker-controlled plaintext element as the decrypted header, leading to incorrect confidentiality coverage and possible policy bypass. Users are recommended to upgrade to versions 4.0.2 or 3.0.6 or 2.4.4, which fix this issue.

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: High
Availability: None

Exploit likelihood

0.33%Up 0.1 points since Oct 1, 2026

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 9.1

Apache WSS4J: WSS4J EncryptedHeader child confusion causing wrong protected-header selection

Record: CVE-2026-89238
CVSS 3.1: 9.1 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Weakness: CWE-345
Updated: 2026-11-02

EUVDEUVD-2026-89794 9.1

Record: EUVD-2026-89794
CVSS 3.1: 9.1 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Updated: 2026-11-02

GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-wm7f-562f-9g52 9.1

WSS4J EncryptedHeader child confusion could promote an attacker-controlled plaintext element as...

Record: GHSA-wm7f-562f-9g52
CVSS 3.1: 9.1 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Weakness: CWE-345
Updated: 2026-11-02

NVD 9.1

Record: CVE-2026-89238
CVSS 3.1: 9.1 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Weakness: CWE-345
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2026-89238 9.1

Record: DEBIAN-CVE-2026-89238
CVSS 3.1: 9.1 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2026-89238 9.1

Record: UBUNTU-CVE-2026-89238
CVSS 3.1: 9.1 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Updated: 2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
Package	Affected	Fixed
`wss4j` Debian:12	All versions, plus listed versions 1.6.19-31.6.19-4	None known
`wss4j` Debian:13	All versions, plus listed versions 1.6.19-4	None known
`wss4j` Debian:14	All versions, plus listed versions 1.6.19-4	None known
`wss4j` Ubuntu:16.04:LTS	All versions, plus listed versions 1.6.15-2	None known
`wss4j` Ubuntu:18.04:LTS	All versions, plus listed versions 1.6.19-1	None known
`wss4j` Ubuntu:20.04:LTS	All versions, plus listed versions 1.6.19-2	None known
`wss4j` Ubuntu:22.04:LTS	All versions, plus listed versions 1.6.19-2	None known
`wss4j` Ubuntu:24.04:LTS	All versions, plus listed versions 1.6.19-3	None known
`wss4j` Ubuntu:26.10	All versions, plus listed versions 1.6.19-4build1	None known
`wss4j` Ubuntu:26.04:LTS	All versions, plus listed versions 1.6.19-41.6.19-4build1	None known

History

History
Recorded	Changed	Sources
Nov 2, 2026	first indexed	CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2026-89238 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.1) in Apache Wss4j, published September 30, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.33%, the 26th percentile. No source names a fixed version.