CVE-2026-42402

Apache Neethi: Policy Normalization Unbounded Resource Allocation DoS

Published May 1, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.5 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
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.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-g36m-9g3m-2vmp Apache Neethi is vulnerable to a Denial of Service attack through algorithmic complexity in policy normalization
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Apache
Apache neethi
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:apache:neethi:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Apache
Apache neethi
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description 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.
Title Apache Neethi: Policy Normalization Unbounded Resource Allocation DoS
Weaknesses CWE-400
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
apache
Published
Updated
May 1, 2026, 4:21 PM
Reserved
Apr 27, 2026, 10:27 AM
Status
Analyzed
Published
May 1, 2026, 9:16 AM
Modified
Oct 26, 2026, 9:10 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
May 1, 2026, 8:54 AM