WaratekVRT Sign in

CVE-2019-0228 Apache PDFBox

Affected softwareApache PDFBox
Severity9.8 Critical CVSS 3.1 2 scores
Fixed in2.0.15
WeaknessXML external entity (XXE) (CWE-611)
Published17 Apr 2019
Updated17 Jun 2026

Description

Apache PDFBox 2.0.14 does not properly initialize the XML parser, which allows context-dependent attackers to conduct XML External Entity (XXE) attacks via a crafted XFDF.

Exploitation status

No public exploit

No exploit has been reported in the sources we check. Published 7 years ago.

  • CISA KEV not listed
  • VulnCheck KEV not listed
  • CISA Vulnrichment no assessment published
  • Indexed PoC none indexed
  • EPSS 9.5% chance in 30 days

Waratek protection

Protected by Waratek

Waratek has a rule that blocks attacks on this vulnerability.

  • Protection full XXE
  • Action available security rule
  • Review automated Inferred
  • Record active
Decided by A vulnerability class already blocked by an ARMR security rule
Finding Protected by Waratek's ARMR xxe security rule, which blocks this class of attack at the JVM level without a rule written for this CVE specifically. The CVE's weakness is CWE-611: XML External Entity Reference.

How to mitigate CVE-2019-0228

Upgrade Apache PDFBox to 2.0.15 or later. Until you can, Waratek RASP blocks exploitation with its XXE rule. It runs inside the Java application, with no code changes.

Waratek RASP Runtime protection for Java applications

CVSS

9.8 CRITICAL v3.1 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H 2 metrics

We show the highest score from the newest CVSS version. Scores from different versions can't be compared, and the first score listed is sometimes a 0.0 placeholder.

VersionScoreBandVectorAssignerType
CVSS 3.1 9.8 CRITICAL CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H NVD Primary published
CVSS 2.0 7.5 none AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P NVD Primary

Affected software and releases

Oracle advisories

AdvisoryTypeQuarterProducts Oracle names in its risk matrix
Oracle Critical Patch Update July 2021 ↗ CPU 2021-Q3 Oracle Financial Services Applications / Onboarding (Apache PDFbox) (14.2, 14.3, 14.5)
Oracle Critical Patch Update April 2021 ↗ CPU 2021-Q2 Oracle Communications Applications / Message Store (Apache PDFBox) (8.1.0)
Oracle Retail Applications / Xstore Office (Apache PDFbox) (16.0.6, 18.0.3)

Oracle components and versions

FamilyComponentVersions, as Oracle lists themRead as
Oracle Communications Applications Message Store (Apache PDFBox) 8.1.0 8.1.0
Oracle Financial Services Applications Onboarding (Apache PDFbox) 14.2, 14.3, 14.5 14.2 · 14.3 · 14.5
Oracle Retail Applications Xstore Office (Apache PDFbox) 16.0.6, 18.0.3 16.0.6 · 18.0.3

Maven packages

Affected and fixed versions, from OSV.dev
PackageIntroducedFixedLast affected
org.apache.pdfbox:pdfbox 2.0.14 2.0.15 unbounded

Products and versions

15 products, 32 version entries
SourceVendorProductSchemeAffected versions
nvd apache james generic 3.3.0 · 3.4.0
nvd apache pdfbox generic 2.0.14
nvd fedoraproject fedora generic 29 · 30
nvd oracle banking corporate lending process management generic 14.2 · 14.3 · 14.5
nvd oracle banking credit facilities process management generic 14.2 · 14.3 · 14.5
nvd oracle banking supply chain finance generic 14.2 · 14.3 · 14.5
nvd oracle banking trade finance process management generic 14.2 · 14.3 · 14.5
nvd oracle banking virtual account management generic 14.2 · 14.3.0 · 14.5
nvd oracle communications messaging server generic 8.1
nvd oracle communications session report manager generic ≥ 8.0.0.0 and ≤ 8.2.4.0
nvd oracle hyperion financial reporting generic 11.1.2.4 · 11.2.6.0
nvd oracle peoplesoft enterprise peopletools generic 8.58 · 8.59
nvd oracle retail xstore point of service generic 16.0.6 · 17.0 · 18.0.3
nvd oracle webcenter sites generic 12.2.1.3.0 · 12.2.1.4.0
osv org.apache.pdfbox pdfbox generic ≥ 2.0.14 and < 2.0.15

References

URLTags
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-c9jj-3wvg-q65h ADVISORY
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/1a3756557f8cb02790b7183ccf7665ae23f608a421c4f723113bca79@%3Cusers.pdfbox.apache.org%3E WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/8a19bd6d43e359913341043c2a114f91f9e4ae170059539ad1f5673c@%3Ccommits.tika.apache.org%3E WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/bc8db1bf459f1ad909da47350ed554ee745abe9f25f2b50cad4e06dd@%3Cserver-dev.james.apache.org%3E WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/be86fcd7cd423a3fe6b73a3cb9d7cac0b619d0deb99e6b5d172c98f4@%3Ccommits.tika.apache.org%3E WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r0a2141abeddae66dd57025f1681c8425834062b7c0c7e0b1d830a95d@%3Cusers.pdfbox.apache.org%3E WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r32b8102392a174b17fd19509a9e76047f74852b77b7bf46af95e45a2@%3Cserver-dev.james.apache.org%3E WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/6HKVPTJWZGUB4MH4AAOWMRJHRDBYFHGJ WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/POPOGHJ5CVMUVCRQU7APBAN5IVZGZFDX WEB
https://www.oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html WEB

Timeline

Published2019-04-17By the CVE Program.
NVD record modified2026-06-17NVD's own last-modified date for this record.