CVE-2026-42402: Apache Neethi: Policy Normalization Unbounded Resource Allocation DoS
Apache Neethi is vulnerable to a Denial of Service attack through algorithmic complexity in policy normalization. Specially crafted WS-Policy documents can trigger an exponential Cartesian cross-product expansion during the normalization process, causing unbounded memory allocation that exhausts the JVM heap. This occurs when the normalization process generates an excessive number of policy alternatives without bounds, leading to runtime memory exhaustion.
Users should upgrade to 3.2.2 which limits the maximum number of normalized policy alternatives.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
Apache Neethito a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 3.2.2Patch CVE-2026-42402
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-42402?
CVE-2026-42402 is classified as a Denial of Service (DoS) vulnerability due to its potential for unbounded resource allocation.
How do I fix CVE-2026-42402?
To mitigate CVE-2026-42402, upgrade Apache Neethi to version 3.2.2 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed.
What version of Apache Neethi is affected by CVE-2026-42402?
CVE-2026-42402 affects Apache Neethi versions up to but not including 3.2.2.
What type of attack does CVE-2026-42402 exploit?
CVE-2026-42402 can be exploited through a Denial of Service attack via algorithmic complexity in policy normalization.
What is the nature of the issue in CVE-2026-42402?
The issue in CVE-2026-42402 arises from the handling of specially crafted WS-Policy documents which cause an exponential Cartesian cross-product expansion.