CVE-2022-23437Network attack vector

Application hang via crafted XML parsing

Published Jan 24, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Denial of service in Apache XercesJ 2.12.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to hang XML-processing applications via crafted XML. The parser enters an infinite loop while handling the document, but Apache has not disclosed the responsible code path or malformed construct. Reachability requires an application to parse attacker-controlled XML; the loop can consume resources for a prolonged period and interrupt that application.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability11.62%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Denial of service in Apache XercesJ 2.12.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to hang XML-processing applications via crafted XML. The parser enters an infinite loop while handling the document, but Apache has not disclosed the responsible code path or malformed construct. Reachability requires an application to parse attacker-controlled XML; the loop can consume resources for a prolonged period and interrupt that application.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-23437
Published
Jan 24, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-835, T1499.003
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 24, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.5National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
6.5GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.1National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-835Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')
T1499.003Application Exhaustion Flood

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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