Apache Cocoon: Incorrect Usage of Seeds in Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG)
CVE-2025-24783 is a high-severity incorrect usage of seeds in pseudo-random number generator (PRNG) vulnerability in Apache Cocoon from Apache, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected Apache Cocoon versions: all versions. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.85% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 59% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of Apache Cocoon you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on lists.apache.org for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apache | Apache Cocoon | all versions | Not stated |
| Apache | Cocoon | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. Scored by CISA (ADP).
Official description
** UNSUPPORTED WHEN ASSIGNED ** Incorrect Usage of Seeds in Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG) vulnerability in Apache Cocoon. This issue affects Apache Cocoon: all versions. When a continuation is created, it gets a random identifier. Because the random number generator used to generate these identifiers was seeded with the startup time, it may not have been sufficiently unpredictable, and an attacker could use this to guess continuation ids and look up continuations they should not have had access to. As a mitigation, you may enable the "session-bound-continuations" option to make sure continuations are not shared across sessions. As this project is retired, we do not plan to release a version that fixes this issue. Users are recommended to find an alternative or restrict access to the instance to trusted users. NOTE: This vulnerability only affects products that are no longer supported by the maintainer.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Incorrect Usage of Seeds in Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG)
The product uses a Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG) but does not correctly manage seeds.
More Incorrect Usage of Seeds in Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG) vulnerabilities (CWE-335)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Third-party and government advisories
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/01/27/3Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
Other vulnerabilities in Apache Cocoon
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
Recent Incorrect Usage of Seeds in Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG) vulnerabilities
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
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