CVE-2012-0803 Improper Authentication in Apache CXF

What is CVE-2012-0803?

CVE-2012-0803 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Apache Cxf, published on 8 Aug 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

Official description

The WS-SP UsernameToken policy in Apache CXF 2.4.5 and 2.5.1 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication by sending an empty UsernameToken as part of a SOAP request.

Weakness: CWE-287

Which versions are affected by CVE-2012-0803?

4 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.apache.cxf:cxf. It affects 1 product.

Products include Apache Cxf.

How do I fix CVE-2012-0803?

Upgrade org.apache.cxf:cxf to a fixed version for your release line: 2.4.6 or 2.5.2.

Upgrade, and rotate credentials and sessions that may have been exposed. More about Authentication bypass.

Is CVE-2012-0803 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2012-0803 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Other vulnerabilities in Apache Cxf

• CVE-2012-2379 XML Signature/Encryption Not Validated in Apache CXF Critical 10.0
• CVE-2026-66909 Apache CXF: Unsafe deserialization of inbound JMS ObjectMessage Critical 9.8
• CVE-2026-68079 Apache CXF: DefaultEncryptingCodeDataProvider allows unlimited authorization code replay Critical 9.8
• CVE-2026-50628 Apache CXF: OAuth2: Inverted IP Binding Check Defeats Security Control Critical 9.8
• CVE-2025-48913 Apache CXF: Untrusted JMS configuration can lead to RCE Critical 9.8

All Apache Cxf vulnerabilities

Sources

• CVE record
• NVD
• OSV
• GitHub advisory
• How this page is made

Also known as GHSA-2p7x-jcr3-7p2c.