CVE-2026-88789: CWE-611 Improper restriction of XML external entity reference in Apache Software Foundation Apache Camel Quarkus
Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in the XSLT support extension (camel-quarkus-support-xalan) in Apache Camel Quarkus from 3.2.0 before 3.33.3 and from 3.34.0 before 3.40.0 on all platforms allows an attacker who supplies the XML document being transformed to read local files or issue requests to internal network locations via an external entity declaration in that document. The extension supplies its own Xalan-backed TransformerFactory to the xslt component and registers it as the JAXP default. Xalan-J 2.7.x predates JAXP 1.5 and does not honour javax.xml.XMLConstants.ACCESS_EXTERNAL_DTD or ACCESS_EXTERNAL_STYLESHEET, so the external access restrictions Apache Camel applies to the TransformerFactory it creates were not in effect. On the xslt component path this affects message bodies that reach the transformer already as a javax.xml.transform.Source; bodies of other types are converted to a SAXSource by Apache Camel with external entities and external DTD loading disabled, and are not affected. Because the factory is also the JAXP default, other code in the application obtaining one through TransformerFactory.newInstance() loses the same restrictions without error. Applications are affected if they use any of camel-quarkus-xslt, camel-quarkus-xslt-saxon, camel-quarkus-tika or camel-quarkus-xmlsecurity, each of which brings the XSLT support extension onto the classpath. For all but camel-quarkus-xslt, the exposure is limited to the JAXP default factory, since those extensions do not perform XSLT transformations themselves. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.33.3 or 3.40.0, which fixes this issue.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The vulnerability in Apache Camel Quarkus stems from the XSLT support extension (camel-quarkus-support-xalan) supplying its own Xalan-backed TransformerFactory, registered as the JAXP default. Xalan-J 2.7.x predates JAXP 1.5 and does not honor the javax.xml.XMLConstants.ACCESS_EXTERNAL_DTD or ACCESS_EXTERNAL_STYLESHEET properties, so external entity restrictions applied by Apache Camel are ineffective. This allows an attacker who controls the XML document being transformed to perform XML External Entity (XXE) attacks, potentially reading local files or making requests to internal network locations. The vulnerability affects applications using camel-quarkus-xslt, camel-quarkus-xslt-saxon, camel-quarkus-tika, or camel-quarkus-xmlsecurity extensions. The issue is fixed in Apache Camel Quarkus versions 3.33.3 and 3.40.0.
Potential Impact
An attacker able to supply XML documents to the affected XSLT transformer can exploit this vulnerability to read arbitrary local files or send requests to internal network locations, potentially exposing sensitive information. The vulnerability does not allow integrity or availability impacts but has a high confidentiality impact. It affects all platforms running the vulnerable versions of Apache Camel Quarkus with the specified extensions.
Mitigation Recommendations
Users should upgrade Apache Camel Quarkus to version 3.33.3 or 3.40.0 or later, where this vulnerability is fixed. No other mitigation is indicated or required as the fix addresses the root cause by correcting the TransformerFactory behavior.
CVE-2026-88789: CWE-611 Improper restriction of XML external entity reference in Apache Software Foundation Apache Camel Quarkus
Description
Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in the XSLT support extension (camel-quarkus-support-xalan) in Apache Camel Quarkus from 3.2.0 before 3.33.3 and from 3.34.0 before 3.40.0 on all platforms allows an attacker who supplies the XML document being transformed to read local files or issue requests to internal network locations via an external entity declaration in that document. The extension supplies its own Xalan-backed TransformerFactory to the xslt component and registers it as the JAXP default. Xalan-J 2.7.x predates JAXP 1.5 and does not honour javax.xml.XMLConstants.ACCESS_EXTERNAL_DTD or ACCESS_EXTERNAL_STYLESHEET, so the external access restrictions Apache Camel applies to the TransformerFactory it creates were not in effect. On the xslt component path this affects message bodies that reach the transformer already as a javax.xml.transform.Source; bodies of other types are converted to a SAXSource by Apache Camel with external entities and external DTD loading disabled, and are not affected. Because the factory is also the JAXP default, other code in the application obtaining one through TransformerFactory.newInstance() loses the same restrictions without error. Applications are affected if they use any of camel-quarkus-xslt, camel-quarkus-xslt-saxon, camel-quarkus-tika or camel-quarkus-xmlsecurity, each of which brings the XSLT support extension onto the classpath. For all but camel-quarkus-xslt, the exposure is limited to the JAXP default factory, since those extensions do not perform XSLT transformations themselves. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.33.3 or 3.40.0, which fixes this issue.
CVSS v3.1
Score 8.6high
Affected software
Apache Software Foundation
Apache Camel Quarkus
pkg:maven/Apache Software Foundation/org.apache.camel.quarkus:camel-quarkus-support-xalanRun 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 Quarkus stems from the XSLT support extension (camel-quarkus-support-xalan) supplying its own Xalan-backed TransformerFactory, registered as the JAXP default. Xalan-J 2.7.x predates JAXP 1.5 and does not honor the javax.xml.XMLConstants.ACCESS_EXTERNAL_DTD or ACCESS_EXTERNAL_STYLESHEET properties, so external entity restrictions applied by Apache Camel are ineffective. This allows an attacker who controls the XML document being transformed to perform XML External Entity (XXE) attacks, potentially reading local files or making requests to internal network locations. The vulnerability affects applications using camel-quarkus-xslt, camel-quarkus-xslt-saxon, camel-quarkus-tika, or camel-quarkus-xmlsecurity extensions. The issue is fixed in Apache Camel Quarkus versions 3.33.3 and 3.40.0.
Potential Impact
An attacker able to supply XML documents to the affected XSLT transformer can exploit this vulnerability to read arbitrary local files or send requests to internal network locations, potentially exposing sensitive information. The vulnerability does not allow integrity or availability impacts but has a high confidentiality impact. It affects all platforms running the vulnerable versions of Apache Camel Quarkus with the specified extensions.
Mitigation Recommendations
Users should upgrade Apache Camel Quarkus to version 3.33.3 or 3.40.0 or later, where this vulnerability is fixed. No other mitigation is indicated or required as the fix addresses the root cause by correcting the TransformerFactory behavior.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- apache
- Date Reserved
- 2026-09-10T07:56:46.005Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 6abe748da43b0b3b89bd1c98
Added to database: 10/01/2026, 14:56:13 UTC
Last enriched: 10/01/2026, 15:19:39 UTC
Last updated: 10/01/2026, 19:41:32 UTC
Views: 3
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