CVE-2025-48913 is a critical vulnerability in the Apache CXF framework, an open-source services framework widely used for building and developing web services. The vulnerability arises from improper input validation (CWE-20) in the configuration of Java Message Service (JMS) endpoints. Specifically, if untrusted users are allowed to configure JMS within Apache CXF versions 4.0.0 and 4.1.0, they could specify Remote Method Invocation (RMI) or Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) URLs. These protocols, when improperly handled, can be exploited to achieve remote code execution (RCE). This means an attacker could execute arbitrary code on the server hosting the vulnerable CXF instance without authentication or user interaction, leading to full compromise of the affected system. The vulnerability is severe due to its network accessibility (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction needed (UI:N), resulting in a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8. The Apache Software Foundation has addressed this issue by restricting the JMS configuration interface to reject RMI and LDAP protocols, effectively removing the attack vector. Users are strongly advised to upgrade to Apache CXF versions 3.6.8, 4.0.9, or 4.1.3, where this vulnerability is fixed. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the critical nature of this flaw and the ease of exploitation make it a high-priority patch for organizations using affected versions of Apache CXF.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for enterprises relying on Apache CXF for their web services infrastructure. Successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, data breaches involving sensitive personal and corporate data, disruption of critical services, and potential lateral movement within internal networks. Given the criticality of the flaw and the lack of required authentication, attackers can remotely exploit vulnerable systems over the network, increasing the risk of widespread attacks. This is particularly concerning for sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and telecommunications, which often use Apache CXF for service-oriented architectures. Additionally, the breach of confidentiality, integrity, and availability could lead to regulatory non-compliance under GDPR, resulting in legal and financial penalties. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the vulnerability’s severity demands immediate attention to prevent potential targeted attacks or automated exploitation campaigns.

European organizations should immediately audit their environments to identify any deployments of Apache CXF versions 4.0.0, 4.1.0, or other affected versions. The primary mitigation is to upgrade to Apache CXF versions 3.6.8, 4.0.9, or 4.1.3, which contain the fix that restricts JMS configuration to safe protocols only. Until upgrades can be applied, organizations should restrict access to JMS configuration interfaces to trusted administrators only, ideally isolating these interfaces behind internal firewalls or VPNs to prevent exposure to untrusted users. Additionally, implement strict network segmentation and monitoring to detect anomalous JMS configuration attempts or suspicious RMI/LDAP traffic. Employ runtime application self-protection (RASP) or web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to block suspicious protocol usage in JMS configurations. Regularly review and harden service configurations to disallow untrusted input and validate all configuration parameters. Finally, maintain up-to-date inventory and vulnerability management processes to ensure timely detection and remediation of similar issues.