Apache Syncope, a popular open-source identity and access management platform, has disclosed a critical XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in its Console component.
The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-23795, allows authenticated administrators to execute XXE attacks and extract sensitive data from affected systems.
Security researchers Follycat and Y0n3er discovered the flaw, which affects multiple versions of the widely deployed IAM solution.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability stems from improper restrictions on XML External Entity references in the Apache Syncope Console.
An administrator with sufficient entitlements to create or modify Keymaster parameters can craft malicious XML to trigger an XXE attack.
| CVE ID | Component | Severity | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2026-23795 | Console (Keymaster Parameters) | Moderate | 3.0 – 3.0.15, 4.0 – 4.0.3 | 3.0.16 / 4.0.4 |
This enables threat actors to read sensitive files, access internal system information, and potentially escalate privileges within the identity management infrastructure.
The XXE vulnerability is particularly dangerous in IAM environments where administrators manage critical authentication and authorization parameters.
The flaw affects Apache Syncope versions 3.0 through 3.0.15 and 4.0 through 4.0.3.
Organizations running these versions are at immediate risk of data exposure and unauthorized access to user credentials and session tokens.
The Apache Syncope development team has released patches to address this security gap.
Apache has released fixed versions addressing the XXE vulnerability. Users running vulnerable versions should upgrade to Apache Syncope 3.0.16 or 4.0.4 immediately.
These patched releases include hardened XML parsing mechanisms that prevent XXE exploitation through Keymaster parameter configuration.
Organizations using Apache Syncope should prioritize upgrading to the patched versions.
Administrators should review Keymaster parameter configurations for suspicious XML patterns and monitor console audit logs for unauthorized parameter modifications.
Additionally, implement the principle of least privilege by restricting administrative access to authorized personnel only.
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