CVE-2026-44618
MEDIUMApache CXF: XXE vulnerability in WS-Transfer functionality
Blast Radius
org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-ws-transfer☕org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-ws-transfer☕org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-ws-transferReal-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
Insecure XML parser configuration in Apache CXF's WS-Transfer module may allow attackers to perform XXE attacks. Users are recommended to upgrade to versions 4.2.1, 4.1.6 or 3.6.11, which fix this issue.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☕Maven | org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-ws-transfer | ≥ 4.2.0&&< 4.2.1 | 4.2.1 |
| ☕Maven | org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-ws-transfer | ≥ 4.1.0&&< 4.1.6 | 4.1.6 |
| ☕Maven | org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-ws-transfer | all versions | 3.6.11 |
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:cxf-rt-ws-transfer. O3's reachability analysis confirms whether the vulnerable code path is actually invoked in your application, so you act on real exposure instead of every transitive match.
Fix
Update org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-ws-transfer to 4.2.1 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2026-44618 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.
How O3 protects you
O3 pinpoints whether CVE-2026-44618 is reachable in your code and exactly where to fix it, then blocks exploitation in production at runtime until the patched version is deployed.
Tailored to CVE-2026-44618. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2026-44618 in your dependencies?
O3 detects CVE-2026-44618 across Maven dependencies and uses function-level reachability to confirm whether the vulnerable code path is actually reachable — not just present. No false positives.