# CVE-2014-3600: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in Apache ActiveMQ

> Remote attackers can exploit an XML external entity vulnerability in Apache ActiveMQ via XPath selectors, potentially reading data or causing denial of service.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 27 Oct 2017
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2014-3600, GHSA-4vhf-2hv7-8mrx, UBUNTU-CVE-2014-3600

## What is CVE-2014-3600?

CVE-2014-3600 is a critical vulnerability in Apache Activemq, published on 27 Oct 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

XML external entity (XXE) vulnerability in Apache ActiveMQ 5.x before 5.10.1 allows remote consumers to have unspecified impact via vectors involving an XPath based selector when dequeuing XML messages.

Weakness: CWE-611 (Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2014-3600?

4 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.apache.activemq:activemq-broker and org.apache.activemq:activemq-client. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `org.apache.activemq:activemq-broker` | Maven | From 5.0.0 | 5.10.1 |
| `org.apache.activemq:activemq-broker` | Maven | From 5.0.0 | 5.10.1 |
| `org.apache.activemq:activemq-client` | Maven | From 5.0.0 | 5.10.1 |
| `org.apache.activemq:activemq-client` | Maven | From 5.0.0 | 5.10.1 |

Products: Apache Activemq.

## How do I fix CVE-2014-3600?

Upgrade org.apache.activemq:activemq-broker to 5.10.1 or later.

## Is CVE-2014-3600 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2014-3600 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apache Activemq

- [CVE-2023-46604](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-46604/): Apache ActiveMQ Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2016-3088](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-3088/): Apache ActiveMQ Improper Input Validation (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-34197](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-34197/): Apache ActiveMQ Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-11998](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11998/): Remote code execution in Apache ActiveMQ (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2013-7285](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-7285/): Command Injection in Xstream (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2014-3600 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2014-3600 is a critical vulnerability in Apache Activemq, published on 27 Oct 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2014-3600 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- org.apache.activemq:activemq-broker (Maven): affected from 5.0.0; fixed in 5.10.1
- org.apache.activemq:activemq-broker (Maven): affected from 5.0.0; fixed in 5.10.1
- org.apache.activemq:activemq-client (Maven): affected from 5.0.0; fixed in 5.10.1
- org.apache.activemq:activemq-client (Maven): affected from 5.0.0; fixed in 5.10.1

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-3600/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-3600/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2014-3600
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-3600
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2014-3600

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-3600/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.