CVE-2019-12423 Private key leak in Apache CXF

What is CVE-2019-12423?

CVE-2019-12423 is a high-severity vulnerability in Apache Cxf, published on 16 Jan 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

Official description

Apache CXF ships with a OpenId Connect JWK Keys service, which allows a client to obtain the public keys in JWK format, which can then be used to verify the signature of tokens issued by the service. Typically, the service obtains the public key from a local keystore (JKS/PKCS12) by specifing the path of the keystore and the alias of the keystore entry. This case is not vulnerable. However it is also possible to obtain the keys from a JWK keystore file, by setting the configuration parameter "rs.security.keystore.type" to "jwk". For this case all keys are returned in this file "as is", including all private key and secret key credentials. This is an obvious security risk if the user has configured the signature keystore file with private or secret key credentials. From CXF 3.3.5 and 3.2.12, it is mandatory to specify an alias corresponding to the id of the key in the JWK file, and only this key is returned. In addition, any private key information is omitted by default. "oct" keys, which contain secret keys, are not returned at all.

Weakness: CWE-522

Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-12423?

8 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf and org.apache.cxf:cxf. It affects 8 products.

Products include Apache Cxf, Oracle Commerce Guided Search, Oracle Communications Diameter Signaling Router, Oracle Communications Element Manager, Oracle Communications Session Report Manager, Oracle Communications Session Route Manager and 2 more.

How do I fix CVE-2019-12423?

Upgrade org.apache.cxf:apache-cxf to a fixed version for your release line: 3.2.12 or 3.3.5.

Is CVE-2019-12423 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-12423 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-42f2-f9vc-6365.