CVE-2026-42402

Apache Neethi: Policy Normalization Unbounded Resource Allocation DoS

Published: May 1, 2026Updated: May 1, 2026 Sources: CVE List NVDCWE-400

7.5HIGH

Description

Apache Neethi is vulnerable to a Denial of Service attack through algorithmic complexity in policy normalization. Specially crafted WS-Policy documents can trigger an exponential Cartesian cross-product expansion during the normalization process, causing unbounded memory allocation that exhausts the JVM heap. This occurs when the normalization process generates an excessive number of policy alternatives without bounds, leading to runtime memory exhaustion. Users should upgrade to 3.2.2 which limits the maximum number of normalized policy alternatives.

No summary for this CVE yet.

CVSS Vector Breakdown

Exploitability

AV:NAttack Vector

Network

AC:LAttack Complexity

Low

PR:NPrivileges Required

None

UI:NUser Interaction

None

Scope

S:UScope

Unchanged

Impact

C:NConfidentiality

None

I:NIntegrity

None

A:HAvailability

High

Open in CVSS calculator →

Weaknesses

CWE-400

Affected Products

Apache Software Foundation

oss-project·USaka apache foundation

Apache NeethiOn-premLibrary

OSS Libraries / web-framework

apache

oss-project·USaka apache http server, apache httpd

neethiOn-premLibrary

OSS Libraries / generic-library

Exploitability

Official Patch Available

Is your org exposed to CVE-2026-42402?Request an assessment to establish which checks are appropriate for your systems. Check my exposure

Attack Graph

Products CVE Techniques Tactics

Click technique nodes for MITRE ATT&CK details · drag to pan · Ctrl/⌘ + scroll to zoom, or go fullscreen.

MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique

Impact

View detailed technique mapping

References

https://lists.apache.org/thread/p826j0phhmr9f83wzpmys1y0bdfrr2q4

lists.apache.org

http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/05/01/6

openwall.com

Unlock Complete Vulnerability Intelligence

Get the full picture for CVE-2026-42402 and every CVE in our database. Create a free account — no credit card required.

Create Free Account

Plain-language analysis

Impact assessment and exploitation scenario in plain English

Attack graph visualization

Interactive attack path and kill chain mapping

Exploit details & PoC links

ExploitDB, Metasploit, GitHub PoCs with direct links

Nuclei scanner templates

Ready-to-use vulnerability scanner templates

Full remediation guide

Patch instructions, workarounds, and compliance impact

Interactive AI chat

Ask questions about this vulnerability in natural language

Related vulnerabilities

Semantically similar CVEs and attack patterns

REST API & MCP access

Integrate vulnerability data into your workflows