CVE-2022-46363 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in the Apache CXF framework, versions prior to 3.5.5 and 3.4.10. Apache CXF is an open-source services framework widely used for building and developing web services, including SOAP and RESTful services. The vulnerability arises from improper input validation (CWE-20) when the CXFServlet is misconfigured with both the static-resources-list and redirect-query-check attributes enabled simultaneously. These two attributes are not intended to be used together, and their combined use creates a security flaw. Specifically, this misconfiguration allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to perform directory listing or exfiltrate code from the server hosting the CXF service. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network without requiring any privileges or user interaction, making it particularly dangerous. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.5, reflecting a high severity level with a vector indicating network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, unchanged scope, and high confidentiality impact but no impact on integrity or availability. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the published date, the vulnerability poses a significant risk if the misconfiguration exists. The root cause is improper input validation in the handling of static resource requests combined with redirect query checks, which can be leveraged to enumerate directories or extract source code files, potentially exposing sensitive information or intellectual property. This vulnerability is relevant primarily to organizations deploying Apache CXF-based web services that may have inadvertently enabled both conflicting attributes in their servlet configuration.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-46363 can be substantial, especially for enterprises and public sector entities relying on Apache CXF for critical web services. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive source code or configuration files, which may contain business logic, credentials, or other confidential data. This exposure can facilitate further attacks such as code injection, privilege escalation, or supply chain compromise. The confidentiality breach could undermine trust, lead to regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations if personal data is exposed), and cause reputational damage. Since the vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability directly, the immediate operational disruption risk is lower; however, the information leakage can be a stepping stone for more damaging attacks. European organizations with complex service-oriented architectures or those in regulated industries (finance, healthcare, government) are particularly at risk. Additionally, the ease of remote exploitation without authentication increases the threat surface, especially for externally facing services. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate it, as attackers may develop exploits targeting misconfigured CXF deployments.

To mitigate CVE-2022-46363, European organizations should take the following specific actions beyond generic patching advice: 1) Audit all Apache CXF servlet configurations to identify any instances where both static-resources-list and redirect-query-check attributes are enabled simultaneously. This misconfiguration is the root cause and must be corrected by disabling one of these attributes to prevent the vulnerability. 2) Upgrade Apache CXF to versions 3.5.5 or 3.4.10 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed. 3) Implement strict configuration management and validation processes to prevent conflicting attribute settings in servlet configurations. 4) Restrict access to CXF-served resources via network segmentation and firewall rules to limit exposure of potentially vulnerable services to trusted internal networks only. 5) Enable detailed logging and monitoring of CXF servlet requests to detect unusual directory listing attempts or suspicious access patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 6) Conduct regular security assessments and penetration tests focusing on web service configurations to identify similar misconfigurations proactively. 7) Educate development and operations teams about secure configuration practices for Apache CXF to avoid inadvertent enabling of incompatible attributes. These targeted mitigations will reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation even if the vulnerable versions are still in use temporarily.