Password exposure in H2 Database
The web-based admin console in H2 Database Engine through 2.1.214 can be started via the CLI with the argument -webAdminPassword, which allows the user to specify the password in cleartext for the web admin console. Consequently, a local user (or an attacker that has obtained local access through some means) would be able to discover the password by listing processes and their arguments. NOTE: the vendor states "This is not a vulnerability of H2 Console ... Passwords should never be passed on the command line and every qualified DBA or system administrator is expected to know that."
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | com.h2database:h2 | >= 1.4.198, < 2.2.220 | 2.2.220 |
References
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-45868
- https://github.com/h2database/h2database/issues/3686
- https://github.com/h2database/h2database/pull/3833
- https://github.com/h2database/h2database/commit/581ed18ff9d6b3761d851620ed88a3994a351a0d
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-22wj-vf5f-wrvj
- https://github.com/h2database/h2database
- https://github.com/h2database/h2database/blob/96832bf5a97cdc0adc1f2066ed61c54990d66ab5/h2/src/main/org/h2/server/web/WebServer.java#L346-L347
- https://github.com/h2database/h2database/releases/tag/version-2.2.220
- https://sites.google.com/sonatype.com/vulnerabilities/sonatype-2022-6243
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-200, CWE-312- Platform
- Java / Kotlin (Maven)
- Package
com.h2database:h2- Disclosed
- 23.11.2022
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 13:19
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-22wj-vf5f-wrvj - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: com.h2database:h2
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
- 4
- First → latest
- 12.2021 11.2022
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 2
- High 2
Disclosures per year
- 2021: 1
- 2022: 3
- 2023: 0
- 2024: 0
- 2025: 0
- 2026: 0
-
Password exposure in H2 Database this entry
Know which vulnerabilities affect your application
With the DockRay integration and software inventory enabled, DockRay checks reported component versions against known vulnerabilities and notifies you about confirmed matches. Coverage depends on the supported technology and available advisory data.