Description
Apache log4net versions before 2.0.10 do not disable XML external entities when parsing log4net configuration files. This allows for XXE-based attacks in applications that accept attacker-controlled log4net configuration files.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | Apache log4net | Apache log4net up to 2.0.8 | — |
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | log4net | 1.2.10+dfsg-8 | — |
| Debian 13 | log4net | 1.2.10+dfsg-8 | — |
| Debian 8 | log4net | 1.2.10+dfsg-6+deb8u1 | DLA-2211-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | log4net | 1.2.10+dfsg-7ubuntu0.20.04.1 | USN-4699-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | log4net | 1.2.10+dfsg-7ubuntu0.18.04.1 | USN-4699-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | log4net | 1.2.10+dfsg-7ubuntu0.16.04.1 | USN-4699-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | log4net | 1.2.10-78.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:12311-1 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
GitHub 1 repository
-
alex-ermolaev/Log4NetSolarWindsSNMP- ★ 1 · Dec 31, 2021
Test application for CVE-2018-1285 alert for Solarwinds DLLs
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Affected packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected | Fixed | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NuGet | log4net | < 2.0.10 | 2.0.10 | GHSA-2cwj-8chv-9pp9 |
Advisories 9
- ICSA-26-239-04 Applied Systems Engineering ASE2000 V2 Communications Test Set CISA ICS & IT advisories · Aug 27, 2026
- USN-4699-1 log4net vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 27, 2026
- DLA-2211-1 log4net - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:12311-1 log4net-1.2.10-78.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- VDE-2021-041 Pepperl+Fuchs: Multiple DTM and VisuNet Software affected by log4net vulnerability CERT@VDE · May 22, 2025
- VDE-2024-004 TRUMPF: Multiple products affected by log4net vulnerability CERT@VDE · May 22, 2025
- ICSA-25-142-02 Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk Historian ThingWorx CISA ICS & IT advisories · May 22, 2025
- ICSA-24-226-02 Rockwell Automation AADvance Standalone OPC-DA Server CISA ICS & IT advisories · Aug 13, 2024
- ICSMA-23-194-01 BD Alaris System with Guardrails Suite MX CISA ICS & IT advisories · Oct 26, 2023
References
- FEDORA-2020-cfc319e067 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2020-73d380e9b9 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2020-847775bf79 vendor-advisory
- [logging-dev] 20200525 [CVE-2018-1285] XXE vulnerability in Apache log4net mailing-list
- [logging-dev] 20200525 Re: [CVE-2018-1285] XXE vulnerability in Apache log4net mailing-list
- [logging-dev] 20200617 Re: [CVE-2018-1285] XXE vulnerability in Apache log4net mailing-list
- [logging-dev] 20200730 Re: [CVE-2018-1285] XXE vulnerability in Apache log4net mailing-list
- [logging-dev] 20200826 log4net.dll - does 2.0.9 fix CVE-2018-1285 mailing-list
- [logging-dev] 20200826 Re: log4net.dll - does 2.0.9 fix CVE-2018-1285 mailing-list
- [logging-dev] 20200906 [VOTE] [log4net] Release 2.0.10 mailing-list
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2021.html
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/reab1c277c95310bad1038255e0757857b2fbe291411b4fa84552028a%40%3Cdev.logging.apache.org%3E
- https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/LOG4NET-575
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuApr2021.html
- [logging-dev] 20210817 Solution for vulnerability mailing-list
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220909-0001/