Apache Neethi up to 3.2.1 PolicyReference API server-side request forgery

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in Apache Neethi up to 3.2.1. Impacted is an unknown function of the component PolicyReference API. The manipulation results in server-side request forgery. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2026-42404. The attack can be launched remotely. No exploit exists. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Apache Neethi up to 3.2.1. Affected is an unknown part of the component PolicyReference API. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a server-side request forgery vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-918. The web server receives a URL or similar request from an upstream component and retrieves the contents of this URL, but it does not sufficiently ensure that the request is being sent to the expected destination. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Apache Neethi does not impose any restrictions on URIs when manually fetching remote policy references through the PolicyReference API. When an application explicitly calls the API to retrieve a policy from a remote URI, an outbound request is made for arbitrary protocols and internal IP adddresses. From 3.2.2, only http or https URIs are allowed, and link-local/multicast/any-local addresses are forbidden. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.2.2, which fixes this issue.

The advisory is shared for download at lists.apache.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-42404 since 04/27/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 06/24/2026).

Upgrading to version 3.2.2 eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-2050). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Affected

• IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty
• IBM WebSphere Application Server

Productinfo

Vendor

• Apache

Name

• Neethi

Version

• 3.2.0
• 3.2.1

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.apache.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Discussion