CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-68079NVD status: Modified

Apache CXF: Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2026-68079 is a critical-severity authentication bypass by capture-replay vulnerability in Apache CXF from Apache, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 4.2.3, 4.1.8, 3.6.12 as the first without the flaw, so updating Apache CXF to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.68% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 53% of scored CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Update Apache CXF to 4.2.3 or 4.1.8 or 3.6.12, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Update Cxf to 3.6.12 or 4.1.8 or 4.2.3, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  3. Read the advisory on lists.apache.org for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  4. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
ApacheApache CXF4.2.0 up to, but not including, 4.2.3; 4.0.0 up to, but not including, 4.1.8; before 3.6.124.2.3, 4.1.8, 3.6.12
ApacheCxfbefore 3.6.12; 4.0.0 up to, but not including, 4.1.8; 4.2.0 up to, but not including, 4.2.33.6.12, 4.1.8, 4.2.3

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
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CISA (ADP).

Official description

In Apache CXF's DefaultEncryptingCodeDataProvider, a captured authorization code can be redeemed an unlimited number of times due to a flaw in the implementation of the removeCodeGrant functionality. This violates the RFC requirement that "The authorization code MUST NOT be used more than once." Users are recommended to upgrade to versions 4.2.3 or 4.1.8 or 3.6.12, which fix this issue.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay

A capture-replay flaw exists when the design of the product makes it possible for a malicious user to sniff network traffic and bypass authentication by replaying it to the server in question to the same effect as the original message (or with minor changes).

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Utilize some sequence or time stamping functionality along with a checksum which takes this into account in order to ensure that messages can be parsed only once.
  • Since any attacker who can listen to traffic can see sequence numbers, it is necessary to sign messages with some kind of cryptography to ensure that sequence numbers are not simply doctored along with content.

More Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay vulnerabilities (CWE-294)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in Apache CXF

All Apache CXF vulnerabilities

Recent Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay vulnerabilities

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