CVE-2026-40023 PUBLISHED

Apache Log4cxx, Apache Log4cxx (Conan), Apache Log4cxx (Brew): Silent log event loss in XMLLayout due to unescaped XML 1.0 forbidden characters

Assigner: apache
Reserved: 08.04.2026 Published: 10.04.2026 Updated: 10.04.2026

Apache Log4cxx's XMLLayout https://logging.apache.org/log4cxx/1.7.0/classlog4cxx_1_1xml_1_1XMLLayout.html , in versions before 1.7.0, fails to sanitize characters forbidden by the XML 1.0 specification https://www.w3.org/TR/xml/#charsets in log messages, NDC, and MDC property keys and values, producing invalid XML output. Conforming XML parsers must reject such documents with a fatal error, which may cause downstream log processing systems to drop or fail to index affected records.

An attacker who can influence logged data can exploit this to suppress individual log records, impairing audit trails and detection of malicious activity.

Users are advised to upgrade to Apache Log4cxx 1.7.0, which fixes this issue.

Metrics

CVSS Vector: 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
CVSS Score: 6.3

Product Status

Vendor Apache Software Foundation
Product Apache Log4cxx
Versions Default: unaffected
  • affected from 0 to 1.7.0 (excl.)
Vendor Apache Software Foundation
Product Apache Log4cxx (Conan)
Versions Default: unaffected
  • affected from 0 to 1.7.0 (excl.)
Vendor Apache Software Foundation
Product Apache Log4cxx (Brew)
Versions Default: unaffected
  • affected from 0 to 1.7.0 (excl.)

Credits

  • Olawale Titiloye finder

References

Problem Types

  • CWE-116 Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output CWE