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Apache Syncope EUVDEUVD-2026-45955

| CVE-2026-63071 CRITICAL
Improper Isolation or Compartmentalization (CWE-653)
2026-07-20 apache GHSA-fxgm-87fw-pcmm
9.8
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: apache
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Authenticate as admin with Implementation entitlements
  2. Delivery
    Author malicious Groovy Implementation
  3. Exploit
    Bypass Groovy security sandbox
  4. Execution
    Execute arbitrary code on Syncope server
  5. Impact
    Access identity data and downstream credentials

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2025 - Insecure Design
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Component isolation
Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires an authenticated Apache Syncope administrator account that holds the entitlements to create or modify Implementations (the Groovy-scripting feature); this is the exact prerequisite stated in the advisory ('an administrator with adequate entitlements for Implementations'). The attacker must be able to reach the Syncope administration interface and submit a Groovy-based Implementation. Limiting factors: it is not exploitable by anonymous or low-privileged users despite the published PR:N - it depends on a high-trust administrative role - and it applies only to the affected version ranges (3.0.0-M0-3.0.16, 4.0.0-M0-4.0.6, 4.1.0-M0-4.1.1) where the Groovy sandbox is not yet tightened. No end-user interaction is required and no non-default configuration is needed beyond having the Implementations feature in use.

Impact

The signals conflict and must be read carefully. The published CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N, base 9.8) marks this as unauthenticated network RCE, but the description explicitly states the actor is 'an administrator with adequate entitlements for Implementations' - that is a privileged, authenticated operation, so PR:N is almost certainly wrong and the true privilege requirement is high. This is a classic privilege-escalation/sandbox-escape where a trusted admin turns constrained scripting into full code execution, not a flaw an anonymous internet attacker can trigger. No EPSS score, KEV entry, or POC was provided, so there is no evidence of active or automated exploitation. Net assessment: technical impact is high (code execution on an IAM server that brokers credentials for downstream systems), but the exploitation barrier is high because it presumes an already-privileged administrator; this is a meaningful insider/compromised-admin risk and a defense-in-depth concern rather than a mass-exploitation emergency. Verify the privilege requirement with the vendor advisory before treating the 9.8 as the operating priority.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker who has obtained or been granted a Syncope administrator account with Implementation entitlements - for example a malicious insider or an admin whose session was phished - navigates to the Implementations section and submits a Groovy class crafted to escape the sandbox. When Syncope compiles and runs that Implementation, the untrusted code executes with the server's privileges, allowing the attacker to read stored identity data or run OS-level commands. No public POC was provided, and the low attack complexity (AC:L) means that for someone already holding the entitlement, the crafting step is straightforward.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: CRITICAL severity.
No patch listed yet 0.2% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv2 – Jul 21, 2026

Groovy sandbox escape in Apache Syncope's Implementations feature lets an administrator holding Implementation entitlements author a malicious Groovy class that runs untrusted code outside the intended security sandbox, effectively achieving arbitrary code execution on the identity-management server. It affects Syncope 3.0.0-M0 through 3.0.16, 4.0.0-M0 through 4.0.6, and 4.1.0-M0 through 4.1.1. There is no public exploit identified at time of analysis and it is not listed in CISA KEV, though the published CVSS of 9.8 overstates real-world exposure because the flaw requires a privileged administrator account.

Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
v1 Jul 20, 2026 - 15:06

Sandbox escape in Apache Syncope allows a privileged administrator holding the 'Implementations' entitlement to craft a malicious Groovy class that bypasses the application's Groovy security sandbox, enabling arbitrary code execution in the context of the application server. Affected release lines span 3.0.0-M0 through 3.0.16, 4.0.0-M0 through 4.0.6, and 4.1.0-M0 through 4.1.1, with vendor-confirmed fixes available in 4.0.7 and 4.1.2. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis, and the vulnerability is not listed in CISA KEV.

RemediationAI

Vendor-released patch: upgrade to Apache Syncope 4.0.7 (for the 4.0.x line) or 4.1.2 (for the 4.1.x line), which tighten the Groovy security sandbox; the 3.0.x line reaches this fix by migrating to 4.0.7 / 4.1.2 per the Apache advisory (https://lists.apache.org/thread/2236mlm6hbvs6g16yqz5y9s8bb7q1lo1). Until patched, the most effective compensating control is to restrict who holds Implementation-related entitlements: audit and remove the Implementation create/update privileges from all but a minimal set of fully trusted administrators, since exploitation depends on that entitlement - the trade-off is that legitimate operators can no longer author custom Groovy logic. Additionally, monitor and log all Implementation create/modify events and treat any new Groovy Implementation as a change-control-gated action, and place the Syncope admin console behind network segmentation and strong (MFA) administrator authentication to reduce the chance of an attacker obtaining the required admin session in the first place.

Affected VersionsENISA

Apache Syncope 4.0.0-M0 ≤4.0.6
Apache Syncope 3.0.0-M0 ≤3.0.16
Apache Syncope 4.1.0-M0 ≤4.1.1

Affected Packages

euvd apache_syncope no fix

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in euvd

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

Apache Syncope is a Java-based open-source identity and access management (IAM) system that lets operators define custom logic through 'Implementations,' which can be supplied as Groovy scripts compiled and executed at runtime. To contain this dynamic code, Syncope relies on a Groovy security sandbox that is meant to whitelist safe operations. The vulnerability is classified CWE-653 (Improper Isolation or Compartmentalization): the sandbox boundary is incomplete, so a crafted Groovy class can reach APIs and system calls it should be denied. The single affected component is cpe:2.3:a:apache_software_foundation:apache_syncope, and the fix in 4.0.7 / 4.1.2 works by tightening the Groovy security sandbox rather than removing the scripting capability.

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Severity by source

Vendor (apache) PRIMARY 9.8 MEDIUM
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 7.2 HIGH

Requires an authenticated admin with Implementation entitlements so PR:H, not PR:N; network-reachable console and simple crafting give AV:N/AC:L, and sandbox escape yields full C/I/A code execution.

3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (apache).

CVSS VectorVendor: apache

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Analysis Updated
Jul 21, 2026 - 16:37 vuln.today
v2 - CVSS changed
CVSS changed
Jul 21, 2026 - 16:22 NVD
9.8 (CRITICAL)

DescriptionCVE.org

Improper Isolation or Compartmentalization vulnerability in Apache Syncope.

An administrator with adequate entitlements for Implementations can create a malicious Groovy class containing untrusted code bypassing the Groovy security sandbox.

This issue affects Apache Syncope: from 3.0.0-M0 through 3.0.16, from 4.0.0-M0 through 4.0.6, from 4.1.0-M0 through 4.1.1.

Users are recommended to upgrade to version 4.0.7 / 4.1.2, which fix this issue by tightening the Groovy security sandbox.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

Apache Syncope identity management platforms (versions 3.0.0-M0 through 3.0.16, 4.0.0-M0 through 4.0.6, and 4.1.0-M0 through 4.1.1) contain a critical Groovy sandbox escape vulnerability enabling arbitrary code execution on the identity server. Because Syncope manages credentials and user access for dependent applications, compromise creates a single point of failure for organizational authentication and a platform for supply chain attacks across the technology stack.

Business Impact: Severe
Compensating Controls

Restrict Implementation entitlements to a minimal administrator set with continuous access review; enforce multi-factor authentication on all administrative access; implement network segmentation with egress filtering to contain the identity infrastructure; enable comprehensive audit logging of administrative actions and code modifications; deploy real-time monitoring for abnormal Groovy class deployment and execution patterns; institute just-in-time privileged access with time-limited elevation; maintain active monitoring of vendor security channels for patch release and prepare expedited deployment procedures.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.2%
Top 93% exploitable
Prevalence
Low
niche open-source enterprise IAM, limited real-world deployment footprint
Data Quality
6 sources
Confidence: High

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity CRITICAL
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.2%
Patch available No
Active threat No
Deciding rule
CRITICAL severity
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision
Out-of-Cycle
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable
Yes
Human Impact
Very High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

34
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +34
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

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