CVE-2014-0002 in Camel
Summary
by MITRE
The XSLT component in Apache Camel before 2.11.4 and 2.12.x before 2.12.3 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files and possibly have other unspecified impact via an XML document containing an external entity declaration in conjunction with an entity reference, related to an XML External Entity (XXE) issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0002 represents a critical XML External Entity (XXE) flaw within the XSLT component of Apache Camel messaging framework. This security weakness affects versions prior to 2.11.4 and 2.12.3, creating a significant attack surface that allows remote adversaries to exploit the system through carefully crafted XML documents. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper handling of external entity declarations within XML processing workflows, specifically when XSLT transformations are employed. Attackers can leverage this flaw by constructing malicious XML payloads that contain external entity declarations, which when processed by the vulnerable Camel components, trigger unintended file system access patterns.
The technical exploitation mechanism involves the manipulation of XML parsers to resolve external entities that reference local files on the server hosting the Apache Camel application. When the XSLT processor encounters an XML document containing such entity declarations, it attempts to resolve these references, potentially allowing attackers to read arbitrary files from the server's file system. This XXE vulnerability falls under CWE-611, which specifically addresses Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, and represents a variant of the broader XXE attack pattern that has plagued numerous XML processing frameworks. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple file reading, as the attack vector may enable additional unspecified consequences that could include information disclosure, denial of service, or potentially remote code execution depending on the server environment and file access permissions.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-0002 within enterprise messaging environments is substantial, particularly given Apache Camel's widespread adoption in integration scenarios and enterprise application architectures. Organizations utilizing Camel for processing XML-based messages, particularly in environments where external data sources are trusted or where message processing involves sensitive data, face significant risk exposure. The vulnerability can be exploited in various attack scenarios including data exfiltration from internal systems, unauthorized access to configuration files, database connection details, and other sensitive information stored on the server. This flaw particularly affects systems that process untrusted XML content through XSLT transformations, making it a critical concern for organizations that rely on Camel for handling external data feeds, web service integrations, or message processing workflows involving third-party data sources. The attack complexity is relatively low, as it requires only the construction of malicious XML documents that conform to standard XXE patterns, making it accessible to attackers with basic knowledge of XML processing and XXE exploitation techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-0002 should focus on immediate version upgrades to Apache Camel 2.11.4 or 2.12.3, which contain the necessary patches to address the XXE vulnerability. Organizations should also implement comprehensive XML input validation and sanitization processes, particularly for any XML content that originates from untrusted sources. Security configurations should disable external entity resolution in XML parsers and XSLT processors, effectively preventing the exploitation of XXE vulnerabilities. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, while monitoring and logging mechanisms should be enhanced to detect suspicious XML processing activities. The remediation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as the vulnerability could potentially enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands through file access and information disclosure, and follows the broader ATT&CK framework's approach to data exposure and privilege escalation through insecure XML processing mechanisms.