CVE-2026-107937: Apache CXF: The attachment header size and count limits can be bypassed, which allows denial of service through memory exhaustion.
In Apache CXF, the parser for multipart/MTOM attachment part headers did not fully enforce the configured attachment-max-header-size (default 300 characters) and attachment-headers-max-count (default 500) limits. The size limit was applied only to each physical line, not to a header value built from continuation lines or to the combined values of a repeated header. The count limit was checked against the number of distinct header names, not the total number of header lines. A remote, unauthenticated attacker could send a multipart request with very large folded or repeated part headers. The server would then allocate memory without bound, causing a denial of service. Users are recommended to upgrade to versions 4.2.4 or 4.1.9 or 3.6.13, which fix this issue.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
Apache CXFto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 4.2.4 - Upgrade
Upgrade
Apache CXFto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 4.1.9 - Upgrade
Upgrade
Apache CXFto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 3.6.13
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
Are deployments using the default attachment-header limits affected?
Yes. The default attachment-max-header-size of 300 characters and attachment-headers-max-count of 500 did not prevent the bypass, because the parser measured physical lines and distinct header names rather than reconstructed or total header data.
What does an attacker need to exploit this issue?
An attacker can be remote and unauthenticated, but must be able to send a multipart request to the CXF server. Exploitation uses oversized folded attachment headers or repeated attachment headers to drive unbounded memory allocation.
What is the impact if exploitation succeeds?
The affected server can exhaust available memory, resulting in denial of service.
Which versions contain the fix?
Upgrade to Apache CXF version 4.2.4, 4.1.9, or 3.6.13.