CVE-2015-5253 Improper Access Control in Apache CXF
Remote authenticated users can bypass authentication in Apache CXF SAML Web SSO module via a crafted SAML response wrapping attack.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2015-5253?
CVE-2015-5253 is a medium-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Apache Cxf, published on 18 Nov 2015. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
The SAML Web SSO module in Apache CXF before 2.7.18, 3.0.x before 3.0.7, and 3.1.x before 3.1.3 allows remote authenticated users to bypass authentication via a crafted SAML response with a valid signed assertion, related to a "wrapping attack."
Weakness: CWE-264
Which versions are affected by CVE-2015-5253?
6 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-rs-security-sso-saml. It affects 1 product.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-rs-security-sso-saml Maven | All versions | 2.7.18 |
org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-rs-security-sso-saml Maven | All versions | 2.7.18 |
org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-rs-security-sso-saml Maven | From 3.0.0 | 3.0.7 |
org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-rs-security-sso-saml Maven | From 3.0.0 | 3.0.7 |
org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-rs-security-sso-saml Maven | From 3.1.0 | 3.1.3 |
org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-rs-security-sso-saml Maven | From 3.1.0 | 3.1.3 |
Products include Apache Cxf.
How do I fix CVE-2015-5253?
Upgrade org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-rs-security-sso-saml to a fixed version for your release line: 2.7.18, 3.0.7 or 3.1.3.
Upgrade, and rotate credentials and sessions that may have been exposed. More about Authentication bypass.
Is CVE-2015-5253 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2015-5253 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Apache Cxf
- CVE-2012-2379 XML Signature/Encryption Not Validated in Apache CXF
- CVE-2026-66909 Apache CXF: Unsafe deserialization of inbound JMS ObjectMessage
- CVE-2026-68079 Apache CXF: DefaultEncryptingCodeDataProvider allows unlimited authorization code replay
- CVE-2026-50628 Apache CXF: OAuth2: Inverted IP Binding Check Defeats Security Control
- CVE-2025-48913 Apache CXF: Untrusted JMS configuration can lead to RCE
Sources
Also known as GHSA-3336-h95j-hvvf.