CVE-2012-5785 — axis2
CVE-2012-5785 is a Improper Input Validation vulnerability in org.apache.axis2:axis2. 1 public exploit or proof-of-concept reference is indexed, so weaponization risk is real. A fix is available for org.apache.axis2:axis2 — see the affected versions and patch details below.
Apache Axis2 has Improper Input Validation
EPSS Exploitation Probability
Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, from FIRST.org EPSS.
Real-World Exposure
org.apache.axis2:axis2☕org.apache.axis2:axis2-transport-httpReal-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects Maven packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.
Description
Apache Axis2/Java 1.7.9 and earlier does not verify that the server hostname matches a domain name in the subject's Common Name (CN) or subjectAltName field of the X.509 certificate, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof SSL servers via an arbitrary valid certificate.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☕Maven | org.apache.axis2:axis2 | all versions | 1.8.0org.apache.axis2:axis2:1.8.0 |
| ☕Maven | org.apache.axis2:axis2-transport-http | all versions | 1.8.0org.apache.axis2:axis2-transport-http:1.8.0 |
Affected Products
axis2apacheResearch use only. For defensive security, authorized penetration testing, and academic research only. Never execute exploit code against systems without explicit written authorization.
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for org.apache.axis2:axis2, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update org.apache.axis2:axis2 to 1.8.0 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2012-5785 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2012-5785 in your dependencies?
Find it across Maven, including transitive dependencies.