Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Bouncy castle
Legion of the Bouncy Castle Java Cryptography APIs starting in version 1.57 and prior to version 1.60 contains a CWE-470: Use of Externally-Controlled Input to Select Classes or Code ('Unsafe Reflection') vulnerability in XMSS/XMSS^MT private key deserialization that can result in Deserializing an XMSS/XMSS^MT private key can result in the execution of unexpected code. This attack appear to be exploitable via A handcrafted private key can include references to unexpected classes which will be picked up from the class path for the executing application.
This vulnerability appears to have been fixed in 1.60 and later.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk15on | >= 1.57, < 1.60 | 1.60 |
References
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-1000613
- https://github.com/bcgit/bc-java/commit/4092ede58da51af9a21e4825fbad0d9a3ef5a223#diff-2c06e2edef41db889ee14899e12bd574
- https://github.com/bcgit/bc-java/commit/cc9f91c41be67e88fca4e38f4872418448950fd9
- https://github.com/bcgit/bc-java/commit/cd98322b171b15b3f88c5ec871175147893c31e6#diff-148a6c098af0199192d6aede960f45dc
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-4446-656p-f54g
- https://github.com/bcgit/bc-java
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf1bbc0ea4a9f014cf94df9a12a6477d24a27f52741dbc87f2fd52ff2%40%3Cissues.geode.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf1bbc0ea4a9f014cf94df9a12a6477d24a27f52741dbc87f2fd52ff2@%3Cissues.geode.apache.org%3E
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20190204-0003
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuApr2021.html
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2020.html
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2020.html
- https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2019-5072813.html
- https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujan2019-5072801.html
- https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2019-5072835.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-05/msg00011.html
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-470, CWE-502- Platform
- Java / Kotlin (Maven)
- Package
org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk15on- Disclosed
- 17.10.2018
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 12:21
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-4446-656p-f54g - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk15on
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
- 25
- First → latest
- 10.2018 04.2026
- Without a fix
- 3
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 2
- High 8
- Medium 14
- Low 1
Disclosures per year
- 2018: 13
- 2019: 0
- 2020: 0
- 2021: 3
- 2022: 3
- 2023: 2
- 2024: 3
- 2025: 0
- 2026: 1
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