Summary
nvdApiKey is logged in debug mode
The value of nvdApiKey configuration parameter is logged in clear text in debug mode.
Details
The NVD API key is a kind of secret and should be treated like other secrets when logging in debug mode.
Expecting the same behavior as for several password configurations: just print ******
Note that while the NVD API Key is an access token for the NVD API - they are not that sensitive. The only thing an NVD API Token grants is a higher rate limit when making calls to publicly available data. The data available from the NVD API is the same whether you have an API Key or not.
PoC
The nvdApiKey is configured to use an environment variable; when running mvn -X dependency-check:check the clear value is logged twice.
Impact
The NVD API key is a kind of secret and should not be exposed. If stolen, an attacker can use this key to obtain already public information.
GHSA-QQHQ-8R2C-C3F5 has a CVSS score of 3.3 (Low). The vector is requires local access, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (9.0.6); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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org.owasp:dependency-check-ant to 9.0.6 or later; org.owasp:dependency-check-cli to 9.0.6 or later; org.owasp:dependency-check-maven to 9.0.6 or later
Kodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is GHSA-QQHQ-8R2C-C3F5? GHSA-QQHQ-8R2C-C3F5 is a low-severity security vulnerability in org.owasp:dependency-check-ant (maven), affecting versions >= 9.0.0, <= 9.0.5. It is fixed in 9.0.6.
- How severe is GHSA-QQHQ-8R2C-C3F5? GHSA-QQHQ-8R2C-C3F5 has a CVSS score of 3.3 (Low). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Which packages are affected by GHSA-QQHQ-8R2C-C3F5?
org.owasp:dependency-check-ant(maven) (versions >= 9.0.0, <= 9.0.5)org.owasp:dependency-check-cli(maven) (versions >= 9.0.0, <= 9.0.5)org.owasp:dependency-check-maven(maven) (versions >= 9.0.0, < 9.0.6)
- Is there a fix for GHSA-QQHQ-8R2C-C3F5? Yes. GHSA-QQHQ-8R2C-C3F5 is fixed in 9.0.6. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is GHSA-QQHQ-8R2C-C3F5 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether GHSA-QQHQ-8R2C-C3F5 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether GHSA-QQHQ-8R2C-C3F5 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
- How do I fix GHSA-QQHQ-8R2C-C3F5?
- Upgrade
org.owasp:dependency-check-antto 9.0.6 or later - Upgrade
org.owasp:dependency-check-clito 9.0.6 or later - Upgrade
org.owasp:dependency-check-mavento 9.0.6 or later
- Upgrade