CVE-2022-42889
Published: 13 October 2022
Summary
CVE-2022-42889 is a critical-severity Code Injection (CWE-94) vulnerability in Juniper Security Threat Response Manager. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).
Operationally, ranked in the top 0.1% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
Deeper analysis
Apache Commons Text versions 1.5 through 1.9 contain a vulnerability in their variable interpolation feature, which expands strings in the format "${prefix:name}" using built-in StringLookup instances. The affected component ships with default lookups for "script" (via javax.script), "dns", and "url" that were enabled by default and could be reached when applications processed untrusted configuration values.
An attacker who can supply crafted configuration data to an application using these defaults can trigger arbitrary code execution through the script interpolator or force the application to contact attacker-controlled remote servers via the dns and url lookups. The issue carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.8, reflecting network attackability without authentication or user interaction.
Official guidance recommends upgrading to Apache Commons Text 1.10.0, which disables the dangerous interpolators by default. Public exploit code for remote code execution against the library has been published, and the CVE maintains a very high EPSS score with a recorded peak of 0.9732.
The combination of a critical severity rating, straightforward remote exploitation path, and sustained high exploitation probability indicates the vulnerability has drawn ongoing attacker interest since disclosure.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2022-7022
Vulnerability details
Apache Commons Text performs variable interpolation, allowing properties to be dynamically evaluated and expanded. The standard format for interpolation is "${prefix:name}", where "prefix" is used to locate an instance of org.apache.commons.text.lookup.StringLookup that performs the interpolation. Starting with version 1.5 and…
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continuing through 1.9, 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 Text 1.10.0, which disables the problematic interpolators by default.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Makes persistent code injection into loaded programs impossible when the executable image itself resides on hardware-protected read-only media.
Dynamically generated code can be produced and executed inside the isolated chamber, preventing host compromise from code-injection payloads.
Validates inputs used in dynamic code generation to block injected directives.
Directly prevents execution of attacker-supplied code written into data memory regions.