GHSA-4cx2-fc23-5wg6
Bouncy Castle for Java bcpkix, bcprov, bcpkix-fips on All (API modules) allows Excessive Allocation
EPSS Exploitation Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) is a daily probability model maintained by FIRST.org. It estimates the likelihood a CVE will be exploited in production environments within the next 30 days, derived from real-world threat intelligence signals.
Blast Radius
org.bouncycastle:bcpkix-jdk15on☕org.bouncycastle:bcpkix-jdk15to18☕org.bouncycastle:bcpkix-jdk18on☕org.bouncycastle:bcpkix-fips☕org.bouncycastle:bcpkix-fipsReal-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
Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling vulnerability in Legion of the Bouncy Castle Inc. Bouncy Castle for Java bcpkix, bcprov, bcpkix-fips on All (API modules) allows Excessive Allocation. This vulnerability is associated with program files https://github.Com/bcgit/bc-java/blob/main/pkix/src/main/java/org/bouncycastle/pkix/jcajce/PKIXCertP... https://github.Com/bcgit/bc-java/blob/main/pkix/src/main/java/org/bouncycastle/pkix/jcajce/PKIXCertPathReviewer.java , https://github.Com/bcgit/bc-java/blob/main/prov/src/main/java/org/bouncycastle/x509/PKIXCertPathRevi... https://github.Com/bcgit/bc-java/blob/main/prov/src/main/java/org/bouncycastle/x509/PKIXCertPathReviewer.java .
This issue affects Bouncy Castle for Java: from BC 1.44 through 1.78, from BCPKIX FIPS 1.0.0 through 1.0.7, from BCPKIX FIPS 2.0.0 through 2.0.7.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☕Maven | org.bouncycastle:bcpkix-jdk15on | ≥ 1.44&&< 1.79 | 1.79 |
| ☕Maven | org.bouncycastle:bcpkix-jdk15to18 | ≥ 1.44&&< 1.79 | 1.79 |
| ☕Maven | org.bouncycastle:bcpkix-jdk18on | ≥ 1.44&&< 1.79 | 1.79 |
| ☕Maven | org.bouncycastle:bcpkix-fips | ≥ 1.0.0&&< 1.0.8 | 1.0.8 |
| ☕Maven | org.bouncycastle:bcpkix-fips | ≥ 2.0.0&&< 2.0.8 | 2.0.8 |
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for org.bouncycastle:bcpkix-jdk15on. 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.bouncycastle:bcpkix-jdk15on to 1.79 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms GHSA-4cx2-fc23-5wg6 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 GHSA-4cx2-fc23-5wg6 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 GHSA-4cx2-fc23-5wg6. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GHSA-4cx2-fc23-5wg6 in your dependencies?
O3 detects GHSA-4cx2-fc23-5wg6 across Maven dependencies and uses function-level reachability to confirm whether the vulnerable code path is actually reachable — not just present. No false positives.