CVE-2014-3577: Apache HttpComponents HttpClient SSL Server Spoofing
Summary
CVE-2014-3577: Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature in org.apache.httpcomponents:httpclient. Affects org.apache.httpcomponents:httpclient versions < 4.3.5. Fixed in 4.3.5. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- commons-httpclient · Debian:11
The same CVE-2014-3577 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.
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Background
Apache HttpComponents HttpClient is a library for making HTTP requests in Java. It provides a set of classes and methods to interact with HTTP servers and handle HTTP requests and responses. This vulnerability affects versions before 4.3.5 of the library. The library is widely used in various applications and frameworks for performing HTTP communication.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2014-3577, exists in the SSL certificate verification process of Apache HttpComponents HttpClient. The library fails to properly verify that the server hostname matches the domain name in the subject's Common Name (CN) or subjectAltName field of the X.509 certificate. This allows an attacker to perform a man-in-the-middle attack and spoof SSL servers by including a "CN=" string in a field in the distinguished name (DN) of a certificate. For example, an attacker could use the "foo,CN=www.apache.org" string in the O field of a certificate to impersonate the www.apache.org server.
How To Fix
Latest published version: 4.5.14 as of 22 Oct 2026
Upgrading to it may include breaking changes; the version below is the minimum fixed release for this vulnerability.
If you need the minimum change
4.3.5
This is the first release that contains the fix.
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Workaround
There is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is recommended to upgrade to the fixed version of the library.
Conclusion
The CVE-2014-3577 vulnerability in Apache HttpComponents HttpClient allows for SSL server spoofing, potentially leading to man-in-the-middle attacks. To mitigate this vulnerability, it is crucial to upgrade to version 4.3.5 or later of the library. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for org.apache.httpcomponents:httpclient →
FAQ
Apache HttpComponents HttpClient is a Java library for making HTTP requests and handling HTTP responses.
This vulnerability allows an attacker to spoof SSL servers and perform man-in-the-middle attacks on applications using Apache HttpComponents HttpClient.
You can use Vulert Playground (https://vulert.com/scanner) to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability. Vulert monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in software.
There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability. It is recommended to upgrade to the fixed version of the library.
For more information about this vulnerability, you can refer to the CVE-2014-3577 entry in the National Vulnerability Database (NVD).
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