Apache Syncope

Apache Syncope RCE via Unsandboxed Groovy Code (Pre-3.0.14 / 4.0.2)
CVE-2025-57738 7.2 - High - October 20, 2025

Apache Syncope offers the ability to extend / customize the base behavior on every deployment by allowing to provide custom implementations of a few Java interfaces; such implementations can be provided either as Java or Groovy classes, with the latter being particularly attractive as the machinery is set for runtime reload. Such a feature has been available for a while, but recently it was discovered that a malicious administrator can inject Groovy code that can be executed remotely by a running Apache Syncope Core instance. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.0.14 / 4.0.2, which fix this issue by forcing the Groovy code to run in a sandbox.

Separation of Privilege

Apache Syncope 3.0.x XSS via incomplete HTML tags in Console & Enduser
CVE-2024-45031 - October 24, 2024

When editing objects in the Syncope Console, incomplete HTML tags could be used to bypass HTML sanitization. This made it possible to inject stored XSS payloads which would trigger for other users during ordinary usage of the application. XSS payloads could also be injected in Syncope Enduser when editing Personal Information or User Requests: such payloads would trigger for administrators in Syncope Console, thus enabling session hijacking. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.0.9, which fixes this issue.

XSS

Apache Syncope UI XSS prior to v3.0.8
CVE-2024-38503 5.4 - Medium - July 22, 2024

When editing a user, group or any object in the Syncope Console, HTML tags could be added to any text field and could lead to potential exploits. The same vulnerability was found in the Syncope Enduser, when editing Personal Information or User Requests. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.0.8, which fixes this issue.

XSS

In Apache Syncope 2.1.X releases prior to 2.1.7, when the Flowable extension is enabled, an administrator with workflow entitlements
CVE-2020-11977 7.2 - High - September 15, 2020

In Apache Syncope 2.1.X releases prior to 2.1.7, when the Flowable extension is enabled, an administrator with workflow entitlements can use Shell Service Tasks to perform malicious operations, including but not limited to file read, file write, and code execution.

A Server-Side Template Injection was identified in Apache Syncope prior to 2.1.6 enabling attackers to inject arbitrary Java EL expressions
CVE-2020-1959 9.8 - Critical - May 04, 2020

A Server-Side Template Injection was identified in Apache Syncope prior to 2.1.6 enabling attackers to inject arbitrary Java EL expressions, leading to an unauthenticated Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability. Apache Syncope uses Java Bean Validation (JSR 380) custom constraint validators. When building custom constraint violation error messages, they support different types of interpolation, including Java EL expressions. Therefore, if an attacker can inject arbitrary data in the error message template being passed, they will be able to run arbitrary Java code.

Code Injection

Vulnerability to Server-Side Template Injection on Mail templates for Apache Syncope 2.0.X releases prior to 2.0.15
CVE-2020-1961 9.8 - Critical - May 04, 2020

Vulnerability to Server-Side Template Injection on Mail templates for Apache Syncope 2.0.X releases prior to 2.0.15, 2.1.X releases prior to 2.1.6, enabling attackers to inject arbitrary JEXL expressions, leading to Remote Code Execution (RCE) was discovered.

Injection

It was found that the Apache Syncope EndUser UI login page prio to 2.0.15 and 2.1.6 reflects the successMessage parameters
CVE-2019-17557 5.4 - Medium - May 04, 2020

It was found that the Apache Syncope EndUser UI login page prio to 2.0.15 and 2.1.6 reflects the successMessage parameters. By this mean, a user accessing the Enduser UI could execute javascript code from URL query string.

XSS

An administrator with workflow definition entitlements
CVE-2018-17186 7.2 - High - November 06, 2018

An administrator with workflow definition entitlements can use DTD to perform malicious operations, including but not limited to file read, file write, and code execution.

XXE

A malicious user with enough administration entitlements
CVE-2018-17184 5.4 - Medium - November 06, 2018

A malicious user with enough administration entitlements can inject html-like elements containing JavaScript statements into Connector names, Report names, AnyTypeClass keys and Policy descriptions. When another user with enough administration entitlements edits one of the Entities above via Admin Console, the injected JavaScript code is executed.

XSS

An administrator with report and template entitlements in Apache Syncope 1.2.x before 1.2.11, 2.0.x before 2.0.8, and unsupported releases 1.0.x and 1.1.x
CVE-2018-1321 7.2 - High - March 20, 2018

An administrator with report and template entitlements in Apache Syncope 1.2.x before 1.2.11, 2.0.x before 2.0.8, and unsupported releases 1.0.x and 1.1.x which may be also affected, can use XSL Transformations (XSLT) to perform malicious operations, including but not limited to file read, file write, and code execution.

Improper Input Validation

An administrator with user search entitlements in Apache Syncope 1.2.x before 1.2.11, 2.0.x before 2.0.8, and unsupported releases 1.0.x and 1.1.x
CVE-2018-1322 4.9 - Medium - March 20, 2018

An administrator with user search entitlements in Apache Syncope 1.2.x before 1.2.11, 2.0.x before 2.0.8, and unsupported releases 1.0.x and 1.1.x which may be also affected, can recover sensitive security values using the fiql and orderby parameters.

Information Disclosure