Apache CXF, an open-source services framework used for building and developing web services, handles large stream-based messages by storing them as temporary files on the local filesystem. A vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-48795 (CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption) was discovered where a bug causes the entire temporary file to be read into memory and subsequently logged in plaintext. This behavior bypasses the intended security measure where temporary files can be encrypted to protect sensitive credentials cached on disk. The flaw can lead to two primary issues: first, an attacker can trigger a denial of service (DoS) by sending large messages that cause the system to exhaust memory resources, resulting in out-of-memory exceptions and service disruption; second, sensitive data intended to be protected by encryption may be exposed in logs, risking confidentiality breaches. The vulnerability affects Apache CXF versions 3.5.10, 3.6.5, 4.0.6, and 4.1.0. The Apache Software Foundation has addressed this issue in versions 3.5.11, 3.6.6, 4.0.7, and 4.1.1. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.6 (medium severity), reflecting network attack vector, high attack complexity, no privileges or user interaction required, and impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No known exploits have been reported in the wild to date, but the vulnerability's characteristics make it a credible threat to affected deployments.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-48795 can be significant, especially for those relying on Apache CXF for critical middleware and web service infrastructure. The denial of service potential can disrupt business operations, causing downtime and loss of availability for services dependent on CXF. Furthermore, the exposure of sensitive credentials or other confidential data in logs can lead to data breaches, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations), and reputational damage. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and telecommunications, which often use Apache CXF for secure service communication, are particularly at risk. The medium severity rating indicates that while exploitation is not trivial, the consequences of a successful attack can affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability simultaneously. The lack of authentication or user interaction required for exploitation increases the threat surface, making remote exploitation feasible if the affected services are exposed to untrusted networks.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should immediately upgrade Apache CXF to one of the patched versions: 3.5.11, 3.6.6, 4.0.7, or 4.1.1. Until upgrades can be applied, organizations should audit and restrict access to logs to prevent unauthorized viewing of sensitive data. Implement network-level protections such as firewalls and intrusion detection/prevention systems to limit exposure of CXF endpoints to untrusted sources. Review and tighten CXF configuration to minimize logging verbosity, especially for large message payloads, and disable or carefully control temporary file encryption settings. Monitor system memory usage and set resource limits to detect and prevent abnormal consumption patterns. Conduct regular security assessments and log reviews to identify potential exploitation attempts. Finally, ensure incident response plans include scenarios for DoS and data leakage related to CXF vulnerabilities.