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CVE-2026-88920

CRITICAL 9.8

Published 2026-09-30 · Last modified 2026-09-30

An authentication bypass in the DOM security processor in Apache WSS4J allows unauthenticated remote attackers to forge authenticated SOAP messages via a crafted unsigned SAML sender-vouches assertion containing an attacker-controlled key. Users are recommended to upgrade to versions 4.0.2 or 3.0.6 or 2.4.4, which fix this issue.

ELEVATED IMPACT

Severe if exploited (CVSS 9.8), but no known exploitation and low modeled probability. Patch on a normal cadence.

Exploitation likelihood

0.6%chance of exploitation in 30 days · 46th percentile

○ In CISA KEV ○ Public exploit / PoC

Impact if exploited

9.8CVSS 3.1 · CRITICAL

  • ConfidentialityHigh
  • IntegrityHigh
  • AvailabilityHigh

What an attacker needs

  • ✓Access: Reachable over the network — no local access needed
  • ✓Privileges: No account or privileges required
  • ✓User interaction: No user interaction needed
  • ✓Complexity: No special conditions — reliably repeatable

✓ lowers the bar for an attacker · ⚠ raises it

Proof of concept & exploit code

Test against your own equipment

curl -s https://vulnpedia.com/cve/CVE-2026-88920/poc.jsonMachine-readable PoC index for this CVE (for automation).

Listed for defensive triage, patch verification, and authorized testing on systems you own. Machine-readable: /cve/CVE-2026-88920/poc.json

Affected

Vendors Apache Software Foundation Apache

Products Apache Wss4j Wss4j

Weakness (CWE)

  • CWE-287: Improper Authentication

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Known Affected Software Configurations

VendorProductVersion range
ApacheWss4j< 2.4.4
ApacheWss4j≥ 3.0.0 and < 3.0.6
ApacheWss4j≥ 4.0.0 and < 4.0.2

All CVSS metrics

  • CRITICAL 9.8 v3.1 · ADP Primary
    CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
  • CRITICAL 9.8 v3.1 · NVD Secondary
    CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

References

Advisories

Sources: NVD · CVE.org · EPSS