Critical

Code injection in Apache Commons Configuration

  • Disclosed: 07.07.2022
  • Updated: 11.10.2026 11:22

Apache Commons Configuration performs variable interpolation, allowing properties to be dynamically evaluated and expanded. The standard format for interpolation is "${prefix:name}", where "prefix" is used to locate an instance of org.apache.commons.configuration2.interpol.Lookup that performs the interpolation. Starting with version 2.4 and continuing through 2.7, the set of default Lookup instances included interpolators that could result in arbitrary code execution or contact with remote servers. These lookups are: - "script" - execute expressions using the JVM script execution engine (javax.script) - "dns" - resolve dns records - "url" - load values from urls, including from remote servers Applications using the interpolation defaults in the affected versions may be vulnerable to remote code execution or unintentional contact with remote servers if untrusted configuration values are used. Users are recommended to upgrade to Apache Commons Configuration 2.8.0, which disables the problematic interpolators by default.

Affected software

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PlatformPackageVulnerable versionsFixed in
Java / Kotlin (Maven) org.apache.commons:commons-configuration2 >= 2.4, < 2.8.0 2.8.0

References

CVSS score 9.8/10
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness (CWE)
CWE-74
Platform
Java / Kotlin (Maven)
Package
org.apache.commons:commons-configuration2
Disclosed
07.07.2022
Updated
11.10.2026 11:22

Sources and licenses

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-xj57-8qj4-c4m6 - CC BY 4.0

Vulnerability history: org.apache.commons:commons-configuration2

All published vulnerabilities of this package (Java / Kotlin (Maven)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.

Total entries
5
First → latest
05.2020 05.2026
Without a fix
0
Exploited in attacks
0

Severity breakdown

  • Critical 2
  • Medium 3

Disclosures per year

  1. 2020: 1
  2. 2021: 0
  3. 2022: 1
  4. 2023: 0
  5. 2024: 2
  6. 2025: 0
  7. 2026: 1
  1. Medium · 5.3 CVE-2026-45205 >= 2.2, < 2.15.0 2.15.0
  2. Code injection in Apache Commons Configuration this entry
    Critical · 9.8 CVE-2022-33980 >= 2.4, < 2.8.0 2.8.0
  3. Critical · 10.0 CVE-2020-1953 >= 2.2, < 2.7 2.7

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