Remote code execution in Apache Commons Configuration
Apache Commons Configuration uses a third-party library to parse YAML files which by default allows the instantiation of classes if the YAML includes special statements. Apache Commons Configuration versions 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 did not change the default settings of this library. So if a YAML file was loaded from an untrusted source, it could therefore load and execute code out of the control of the host application.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | org.apache.commons:commons-configuration2 | >= 2.2, < 2.7 | 2.7 |
References
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-1953
- https://github.com/apache/commons-configuration/commit/add7375cf37fd316d4838c6c56b054fc293b4641
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/d0e00f2e147a9e9b13a6829133092f349b2882bf6860397368a52600@%3Cannounce.tomcat.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r16a2e949e35780c8974cf66104e812410f3904f752df6b66bf292269@%3Ccommits.servicecomb.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rde2186ad6ac0d6ed8d51af7509244adcf1ce0f9a3b7e1d1dd3b64676@%3Ccommits.camel.apache.org%3E
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2020.html
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-20- Platform
- Java / Kotlin (Maven)
- Package
org.apache.commons:commons-configuration2- Disclosed
- 21.05.2020
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 11:21
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-7qx4-pp76-vrqh - 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
- 2020: 1
- 2021: 0
- 2022: 1
- 2023: 0
- 2024: 2
- 2025: 0
- 2026: 1
-
Remote code execution in Apache Commons Configuration this entry
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