CVE-2026-78163: CWE-918 Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) in Apache Software Foundation Apache Camel
Description
Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF), Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') and Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor vulnerability in Apache Camel Docling component. This issue affects Apache Camel: from 4.15.0 before 4.18.5, from 4.19.0 before 4.22.1. DoclingProducer decided what a String message body meant by inspecting its prefix. A body starting with http:// or https:// was handed to Docling as a remote URL to fetch, a body starting with / or containing a backslash was read from the local filesystem, and anything else was written to a temporary file and converted as document content. The mode was chosen implicitly and no endpoint option allowed a route author to pin the component to a single interpretation, so a route that means convert whatever text arrives in the body silently became a fetcher of remote resources or a reader of local files whenever the text happened to begin with one of those prefixes. The only guard applied to the derived value was a size check, and that check was wrapped in an existence test, so a path that resolved to nothing, or to a pseudo-file reporting a size of zero, passed without being checked at all. Five call sites reached the two sinks: the CLI mode appended the value as the final positional argument of the docling subprocess, and the docling-serve mode passed it either to HttpSource for the backend to fetch or to Files.readAllBytes so that the content could be base64-encoded and uploaded. Because the exchange body is never filtered by a HeaderFilterStrategy, unlike the Camel header namespace, a sender able to place text in a message that a route forwards into a docling endpoint could reach both sinks without any opt-in from the deployment. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 4.23.0, which fixes the issue. If users are on the 4.22.x releases stream, then they are suggested to upgrade to 4.22.1. If users are on the 4.18.x releases stream, then they are suggested to upgrade to 4.18.5. The 4.14.x releases stream and earlier reached end of life before this issue was resolved and will not receive a fix, so deployments on those lines must move to a supported release. For deployments that cannot upgrade immediately, do not route message bodies that originate outside the deployment into a docling endpoint, and pass the document through a typed body such as File, byte[] or InputStream, or through the CamelDoclingInputFilePath header, so that the body is never subject to prefix interpretation.
CVSS v3.1
Score 5.9medium
Affected software
Apache Software Foundation
Apache Camel
pkg:maven/Apache Software Foundation/org.apache.camel:camel-doclingRun on your own infrastructure? Check whether these packages are installed with threat-finder — our free open-source scanner.
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The vulnerability in Apache Camel's Docling component involves the DoclingProducer deciding how to interpret a String message body based on its prefix: URLs trigger remote fetches, paths trigger local file reads, and other content is treated as document content. This implicit mode selection lacks endpoint options to restrict interpretation, allowing an attacker who can influence message bodies to cause SSRF or local file reads. The only guard was a size check that could be bypassed if the path resolved to zero size or nothing. The vulnerability affects versions >=4.15.0 <4.18.5 and >=4.19.0 <4.22.1. The issue is fixed in versions 4.18.5, 4.22.1, and 4.23.0. Users are advised to upgrade or apply mitigations such as avoiding routing untrusted message bodies into docling endpoints or passing bodies as typed objects or via specific headers to prevent prefix-based interpretation.
Potential Impact
An attacker able to control message bodies routed into the Docling component can cause the system to fetch remote URLs or read local files, potentially exposing sensitive information. The vulnerability allows unauthorized access to internal resources via SSRF and path traversal. The CVSS score is 5.9 (medium severity) with a network attack vector, high confidentiality impact, and no integrity or availability impact.
Mitigation Recommendations
A fix is available in Apache Camel versions 4.18.5, 4.22.1, and 4.23.0. Users should upgrade to one of these versions to remediate the vulnerability. For deployments that cannot upgrade immediately, do not route message bodies originating outside the deployment into a docling endpoint. Instead, pass the document through a typed body such as File, byte[], or InputStream, or use the CamelDoclingInputFilePath header to avoid prefix-based interpretation.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- apache
- Date Reserved
- 2026-08-23T12:48:57.941Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 6ad5f2162cdf04f656419db3
Added to database: 10/19/2026, 10:33:58 UTC
Last enriched: 10/19/2026, 10:48:45 UTC
Last updated: 10/19/2026, 19:19:42 UTC
Views: 11
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