The Apache WSS4J library, which enables the application of WS-Security to SOAP messages in Java environments, has been found to contain multiple vulnerabilities. A coordinated update addressing all seven issues is now available.
On September 30, 2026, the development team published several security advisories confirming the fixes. Three of the vulnerabilities were rated Important: CVE-2026-88920, CVE-2026-89238, and CVE-2026-95616.
CVE-2026-88920 is an authentication bypass flaw in the DOM security processor. An attacker can insert a controlled key into a crafted unsigned sender-vouches SAML assertion, allowing forged authenticated SOAP messages to be accepted.
CVE-2026-89238 involves a processing issue with encryption headers. Attackers can supply plaintext elements that are incorrectly treated as decrypted headers, undermining confidentiality protections and bypassing defined security policies.
The remaining four vulnerabilities, tracked as CVE-2026-85532, CVE-2026-87830, CVE-2026-92121, and CVE-2026-92899, were also resolved in the same release. Users are advised to apply the latest patched versions of Apache WSS4J immediately.


