CVE-2014-3596: org.apache.axis:axis - SSL Server Spoofing Vulnerability
Summary
CVE-2014-3596: Improper Validation of Certificates in apache axis. Affects org.apache.axis:axis versions < 1.4. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- axis · Debian:11
The same CVE-2014-3596 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
Apache Axis is a widely-used open-source framework for building web services in Java. It provides a comprehensive set of tools and libraries for creating, deploying, and managing SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) web services. The org.apache.axis:axis package is a core component of Apache Axis. It is used by developers to implement SOAP-based communication between clients and servers.
This vulnerability affects versions of Apache Axis up to and including 1.4. It arises from a flaw in the getCN function, which is responsible for verifying the server hostname against the Common Name (CN) or subjectAltName field of the X.509 certificate during SSL/TLS communication. Due to an incomplete fix for a previous vulnerability (CVE-2012-5784), the function fails to properly validate the certificate, allowing an attacker to perform a man-in-the-middle attack and spoof SSL servers.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability allows an attacker to impersonate an SSL server by presenting a certificate with a subject that specifies a common name in a field other than the CN field. This can lead to various security issues, including interception and modification of sensitive data transmitted between the client and the server. The vulnerability has a moderate severity rating and is assigned the CVE identifier CVE-2014-3596. It was first published on October 16, 2018, and has been reviewed by the GitHub advisory database.
The vulnerability is classified under CWE-297, which relates to the improper validation of SSL/TLS certificates. It is important to note that this vulnerability is a result of an incomplete fix for a previous vulnerability (CVE-2012-5784).
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
There is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is necessary to apply the recommended fix by upgrading to a version of Apache Axis that includes a complete fix for the issue.
Conclusion
The SSL Server Spoofing vulnerability in org.apache.axis:axis (CVE-2014-3596) poses a moderate risk to applications using Apache Axis. It allows an attacker to impersonate an SSL server and potentially compromise the confidentiality and integrity of data transmitted between clients and servers. To mitigate this vulnerability, it is crucial to upgrade to a version of Apache Axis that includes a complete fix for the issue. Regularly updating the Apache Axis package is also recommended to stay protected against future vulnerabilities.
For further support and assistance in vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for org.apache.axis:axis →
FAQ
Apache Axis is an open-source framework for building web services in Java. It provides tools and libraries for creating, deploying, and managing SOAP web services.
This vulnerability allows an attacker to impersonate an SSL server, potentially leading to interception and modification of sensitive data transmitted between the client and the server.
This vulnerability has a moderate severity rating.
No, there is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is necessary to apply the recommended fix by upgrading to a version of Apache Axis that includes a complete fix for the issue.
You can use Vulert's 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 using just the pom.xml file.
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for org.apache.axis:axis.
