Cyber Resilience

CVE-2022-42889

RCE in Juniper Security Threat Response Manager ≤ 7.5.0

Public PoCHigh EPSSRCE
Published
13 October 2022
Modified
21 November 2024
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 9.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.99 100.0th percentile
Risk Priority 97 floored blend · peak EPSS

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 0.0% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to CM-7 (Least Functionality) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation) — see the control section below for these in your framework.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

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.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

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…

more

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

Likely ATT&CK TechniquesAI

Techniques this vulnerability likely enables, inferred from its description, weakness type, and attributed-actor tradecraft. Confidence is per-technique.

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Accessconfidence: HIGH
Remote attackers can supply crafted configuration values to trigger arbitrary code execution via the script interpolator.
T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter Executionconfidence: HIGH
The script StringLookup enables execution of arbitrary code through the javax.script engine.
T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer Command And Controlconfidence: MEDIUM
The url and dns lookups can be abused to force the application to contact attacker-controlled servers, facilitating tool or payload retrieval.
inferred from description + CWE · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2025-11837Same product class: NAS / storage appliance
CVE-2019-0192Same product class: NAS / storage appliance
CVE-2021-21345Same product class: NAS / storage appliance
CVE-2018-11776Same product class: NAS / storage appliance
CVE-2023-28709Same product class: NAS / storage appliance
CVE-2017-9805Same product class: NAS / storage appliance
CVE-2021-29505Same product class: NAS / storage appliance
CVE-2021-42013Same product class: NAS / storage appliance
CVE-2017-5645Same product class: NAS / storage appliance
CVE-2021-41773Same product class: NAS / storage appliance

Affected Assets

apache
commons text
1.5 — 1.10.0
netapp
bluexp
all versions
juniper
security threat response manager
7.5.0 · ≤ 7.5.0

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)
  • SI-2 Flaw Remediation
  • CM-7 Least Functionality
  • SI-10 Information Input Validation
Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V1.3.1

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

prevent

Directly requires timely application of the vendor fix (upgrade to Commons Text 1.10.0) that disables the dangerous script/dns/url interpolators.

prevent

Mandates disabling or restricting non-essential library features (the default StringLookup instances) that enable arbitrary code execution or remote access.

prevent

Requires validation or sanitization of untrusted configuration values before they are passed to the vulnerable interpolation routine.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

PR.PS-06's SDLC practices directly target injection flaws via secure coding and testing (mostly), yet as a single broad outcome it leaves many code-generation specifics unaddressed (partial).

PR.DS-10 none match
prevents

PR.DS-10 protects runtime data confidentiality/integrity but has no bearing on neutralizing externally influenced input during code generation, so neither direction shows any preventive effect.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

prevents

Banning unapproved code samples and unauthenticated web services, combined with secure-coding standards and SAST, prevents the dynamic generation or inclusion of attacker-supplied code.

none

Controls that restrict unauthorized or malicious code from being introduced via external networks or removable media limit opportunities for an attacker to inject and execute arbitrary code.

References