CVE-2026-107937: Apache CXF: The attachment header size and count limits can be bypassed, which allows denial of service through memory exhaustion.

Published Oct 9, 2026
·
Updated

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

1 affected component
Apache CXF<4.2.4, <4.1.9, <3.6.13

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade Apache CXF to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.2.4
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade Apache CXF to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.1.9
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade Apache CXF to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 3.6.13

Event History

Oct 9, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·10:19 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·10:19 AM
Description

Frequently Asked Questions

1

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.

2

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.

3

What is the impact if exploitation succeeds?

The affected server can exhaust available memory, resulting in denial of service.

4

Which versions contain the fix?

Upgrade to Apache CXF version 4.2.4, 4.1.9, or 3.6.13.

Contact

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