CVE-2018-11788 XML External Entity Reference in Apache Karaf

What is CVE-2018-11788?

CVE-2018-11788 is a critical vulnerability in Apache Karaf, published on 7 Jan 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

Official description

Apache Karaf provides a features deployer, which allows users to "hot deploy" a features XML by dropping the file directly in the deploy folder. The features XML is parsed by XMLInputFactory class. Apache Karaf XMLInputFactory class doesn't contain any mitigation codes against XXE. This is a potential security risk as an user can inject external XML entities in Apache Karaf version prior to 4.1.7 or 4.2.2. It has been fixed in Apache Karaf 4.1.7 and 4.2.2 releases.

Weakness: CWE-611

Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-11788?

4 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.apache.karaf.specs:org.apache.karaf.specs.java.xml. It affects 1 product.

Products include Apache Karaf.

How do I fix CVE-2018-11788?

Upgrade org.apache.karaf.specs:org.apache.karaf.specs.java.xml to a fixed version for your release line: 4.1.7 or 4.2.2.

Is CVE-2018-11788 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-11788 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code: 1 proofs of concept on GitHub.

Other vulnerabilities in Apache Karaf

• CVE-2026-91012 Apache Karaf: Path Traversal in Config Service Allows Manager-to-Admin Privilege Escalation Critical 9.8
• CVE-2026-91048 Missing authorization in Apache Karaf Critical 9.8
• CVE-2022-40145 Apache Karaf: JDBC JAAS LDAP injection Critical 9.8
• CVE-2026-92142 Apache Karaf: Authorization bypass in JMX MBean lifecycle operations High 8.8
• CVE-2026-91006 Apache Karaf: OS Command Injection in Child-Instance Launch (instance:* / InstancesMBean) High 8.8

Sources

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

Also known as GHSA-92wj-x78c-m4fx.