CVE-2019-17573 is a medium-severity (CVSS 6.1) Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf. 5 public exploit or proof-of-concept references are indexed, so weaponization risk is real. A fix is available for org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf — see the affected versions and patch details below.
Reflected Cross-Site Scripting in Apache CXF
EPSS Exploitation Probability
Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, from FIRST.org EPSS.
How urgent is this, really
Where this sits among everything scored
Real-World Exposure
org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf☕org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf☕org.apache.cxf:cxf☕org.apache.cxf:cxfReal-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
By default, Apache CXF creates a /services page containing a listing of the available endpoint names and addresses. This webpage is vulnerable to a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attack, which allows a malicious actor to inject javascript into the web page. Please note that the attack exploits a feature which is not typically not present in modern browsers, who remove dot segments before sending the request. However, Mobile applications may be vulnerable.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☕Maven | org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf | all versions | 3.2.12org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf:3.2.12 |
| ☕Maven | org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf | ≥ 3.3.0&&< 3.3.5 | 3.3.5org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf:3.3.5 |
| ☕Maven | org.apache.cxf:cxf | all versions | 3.2.12org.apache.cxf:cxf:3.2.12 |
| ☕Maven | org.apache.cxf:cxf | ≥ 3.3.0&&< 3.3.5 | 3.3.5org.apache.cxf:cxf:3.3.5 |
Affected Products
cxfapachecommerce guided searchoraclecommunications element manageroraclecommunications session report manageroraclecommunications session route manageroracleflexcube private bankingoracleResearch use only. For defensive security, authorized penetration testing, and academic research only. Never execute exploit code against systems without explicit written authorization.
By default, Apache CXF creates a /services page containing a listing of …
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Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf to 3.2.12 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2019-17573 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
Escape or sanitise the affected output on the server side rather than relying on client-side filtering, and add a Content-Security-Policy that blocks inline script execution so injected markup cannot run even if it reaches the page.
Fixing This On Your OS
If you run this on a Linux distribution, patch through your package manager against the distro's own security advisory below — it tracks the exact backported fix for your release, which can ship on a different timeline (and sometimes a different severity) than the upstream project.
Mitigate this flaw by disabling the service listing altogether; via setting the "hide-service-list-page" servlet parameter to "true".Source: Red Hat security advisory for CVE-2019-17573 (CC BY 4.0)
| Product | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|
| EAP-CD 19 Tech Preview | cxf | RHSA-2020:2333 |
| Red Hat Decision Manager 7 | cxf-core | RHSA-2020:3196 |
| Red Hat Fuse 7.7.0 | cxf-core | RHSA-2020:3192 |
| Red Hat JBoss EAP 7.2 | cxf | RHSA-2020:2061 |
| Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 7 | cxf | RHSA-2020:2515 |
| Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 7.2 for RHEL 6 | eap7-activemq-artemis-0:2.9.0-4.redhat_00010.1.el6eap | RHSA-2020:2058 |
| Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 7.2 for RHEL 7 | eap7-activemq-artemis-0:2.9.0-4.redhat_00010.1.el7eap | RHSA-2020:2059 |
| Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 7.2 for RHEL 8 | eap7-activemq-artemis-0:2.9.0-4.redhat_00010.1.el8eap | RHSA-2020:2060 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2019-17573 in your dependencies?
Find it across Maven, including transitive dependencies.