CVE-2026-40021 MEDIUM

CVE-2026-40021: Apache Log4net: Silent log event loss in XmlLayout and XmlLayoutSchemaLog4J due to unescaped XML 1.0 forbidden characters

Vendor Apache Software Foundation
Product Apache Log4net
Weakness CWE-116
Published April 10, 2026
Last update April 10, 2026

CVSS base score

6.3/10
Attack vector Network
Attack complexity High
Privileges required None
User interaction None
Confidentiality
Integrity

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

What the vulnerability does

Description

Apache Log4net's XmlLayout https://logging.apache.org/log4net/manual/configuration/layouts.html#layout-list and XmlLayoutSchemaLog4J https://logging.apache.org/log4net/manual/configuration/layouts.html#layout-list , in versions before 3.3.0, fail to sanitize characters forbidden by the XML 1.0 specification https://www.w3.org/TR/xml/#charsets in MDC property keys and values, as well as the identity field that may carry attacker-influenced data. This causes an exception during serialization and the silent loss of the affected log event. An attacker who can influence any of these fields can exploit this to suppress individual log records, impairing audit trails and detection of malicious activity. Users are advised to upgrade to Apache Log4net 3.3.0, which fixes this issue.

Key dates

Disclosure timeline

April 10, 2026 CVE published
April 10, 2026 Record updated