CVE-2026-34477

Apache Log4j Core: verifyHostName attribute silently ignored in TLS configuration, allowing hostname verification bypass

Published Apr 10, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 6.3 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
The fix for CVE-2025-68161 https://logging.apache.org/security.html#CVE-2025-68161 was incomplete: it addressed hostname verification only when enabled via the log4j2.sslVerifyHostName https://logging.apache.org/log4j/2.x/manual/systemproperties.html#log4j2.sslVerifyHostName system property, but not when configured through the verifyHostName https://logging.apache.org/log4j/2.x/manual/appenders/network.html#SslConfiguration-attr-verifyHostName attribute of the <Ssl> element.

Although the verifyHostName configuration attribute was introduced in Log4j Core 2.12.0, it was silently ignored in all versions through 2.25.3, leaving TLS connections vulnerable to interception regardless of the configured value.

A network-based attacker may be able to perform a man-in-the-middle attack when all of the following conditions are met:

* An SMTP, Socket, or Syslog appender is in use.
* TLS is configured via a nested <Ssl> element.
* The attacker can present a certificate issued by a CA trusted by the appender's configured trust store, or by the default Java trust store if none is configured.
This issue does not affect users of the HTTP appender, which uses a separate verifyHostname https://logging.apache.org/log4j/2.x/manual/appenders/network.html#HttpAppender-attr-verifyHostName attribute that was not subject to this bug and verifies host names by default.

Users are advised to upgrade to Apache Log4j Core 2.25.4, which corrects this issue.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-6hg6-v5c8-fphq Apache Log4j Core: `verifyHostName` attribute silently ignored in TLS configuration
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:apache:log4j:3.0.0:alpha1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:log4j:3.0.0:alpha1_rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:log4j:3.0.0:alpha1_rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:log4j:3.0.0:beta1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:log4j:3.0.0:beta2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:log4j:3.0.0:beta3:*:*:*:*:*:*
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.9, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-295
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description The fix for CVE-2025-68161 https://logging.apache.org/security.html#CVE-2025-68161 was incomplete: it addressed hostname verification only when enabled via the log4j2.sslVerifyHostName https://logging.apache.org/log4j/2.x/manual/systemproperties.html#log4j2.sslVerifyHostName system property, but not when configured through the verifyHostName https://logging.apache.org/log4j/2.x/manual/appenders/network.html#SslConfiguration-attr-verifyHostName attribute of the <Ssl> element. Although the verifyHostName configuration attribute was introduced in Log4j Core 2.12.0, it was silently ignored in all versions through 2.25.3, leaving TLS connections vulnerable to interception regardless of the configured value. A network-based attacker may be able to perform a man-in-the-middle attack when all of the following conditions are met: * An SMTP, Socket, or Syslog appender is in use. * TLS is configured via a nested <Ssl> element. * The attacker can present a certificate issued by a CA trusted by the appender's configured trust store, or by the default Java trust store if none is configured. This issue does not affect users of the HTTP appender, which uses a separate verifyHostname https://logging.apache.org/log4j/2.x/manual/appenders/network.html#HttpAppender-attr-verifyHostName attribute that was not subject to this bug and verifies host names by default. Users are advised to upgrade to Apache Log4j Core 2.25.4, which corrects this issue.
Title Apache Log4j Core: verifyHostName attribute silently ignored in TLS configuration, allowing hostname verification bypass
First Time appeared Apache
Apache log4j
Weaknesses CWE-297
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:apache:log4j:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Apache
Apache log4j
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 6.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:L/SA:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
apache
Published
Updated
Apr 10, 2026, 5:38 PM
Reserved
Mar 28, 2026, 11:26 AM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Apr 10, 2026, 4:16 PM
Modified
Oct 26, 2026, 10:10 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Apr 10, 2026, 3:36 PM