CVEvulnerability
CVE-2026-40021
6.3 MEDIUM
Official page ↗
- Status
- Analyzed
- Published
- 2026-04-10
- Last modified
- 2026-10-26
- Assigner
- [email protected]
- CVSS 4.0 ([email protected])
- 6.3 MEDIUM — CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:L/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
- CVSS 3.1 ([email protected])
- 5.3 MEDIUM — CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
- Weaknesses
- CWE-116
Description
Apache Log4net's XmlLayout https://logging.apache.org/log4net/manual/configuration/layouts.html#layout-list and XmlLayoutSchemaLog4J https://logging.apache.org/log4net/manual/configuration/layouts.html#layout-list , in versions before 3.3.0, fail to sanitize characters forbidden by the XML 1.0 specification https://www.w3.org/TR/xml/#charsets in MDC property keys and values, as well as the identity field that may carry attacker-influenced data. This causes an exception during serialization and the silent loss of the affected log event.
An attacker who can influence any of these fields can exploit this to suppress individual log records, impairing audit trails and detection of malicious activity.
Users are advised to upgrade to Apache Log4net 3.3.0, which fixes this issue.
Affected configurations
• apache log4net (< 3.3.0)
Related
Weakness · CWE (1)
- CWE-116 Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output weakness
References
- https://github.com/apache/logging-log4net/pull/280 Issue Tracking
- https://lists.apache.org/thread/q8otftjswhk69n3kxslqg7cobr0x4st7 Mailing List, Vendor Advisory
- https://logging.apache.org/cyclonedx/vdr.xml Product
- https://logging.apache.org/log4net/manual/configuration/layouts.html Product
- https://logging.apache.org/security.html#CVE-2026-40021 Vendor Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/04/10/11 Mailing List, Third Party Advisory