External risk intelligence

FasterXML Jackson-databind Polymorphic Deserialization Code Execution Vulnerability

CVE advisorySeverity: CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8)

CVE-2018-14719

The vulnerable component is a widely used Java library for data processing. Because it is frequently embedded in web applications, APIs, and edge services that handle external data, it is commonly exposed to network-based input, making it a likely target for remote interaction in many standard application deployments.

Halo Surface Signal: 4 out of 5 — likely to be public-facing.

External exposure likelihood

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

A vulnerability exists in a widely used Java data processing library that could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code remotely. This is due to improper handling of certain class types during data deserialization. The main concern is confirming if this library is used and exposed in your environment.

  • A code execution flaw exists in a Java library.
  • It's a common library used across many applications.
  • Confirm usage and potential exposure in your environment.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An attacker can reach this vulnerability through network access by sending specially crafted data to an application that uses a vulnerable version of the jackson-databind library. The application then fails to properly validate and block certain classes during deserialization, allowing the attacker to achieve arbitrary code execution.

  • Network access required.
  • Deserialization of specific classes.
  • Remote code execution possible.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

When supported by the advisory, remote attackers could execute arbitrary code by leveraging failure to block specific classes during polymorphic deserialization.

  • Code execution on affected systems.
  • Via network-accessible application endpoints.
  • Potential for system compromise.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

The FasterXML jackson-databind library is often integrated into various applications, making application owners and platform teams primarily responsible for managing its security. The initial step is to locate all instances of this library within your environment, assess their exposure, and determine business criticality before planning any remediation.

  • Identify application owners for affected systems.
  • Verify vulnerable library exposure and criticality.
  • Plan remediation based on identified risk.

Supplementary metadata

Validate whether this threat affects your internet-facing exposure.

Halo Threat Intelligence helps prioritize remediation with Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context. Start exposure validation with a free external attack surface trial.

Frequently asked questions

What is FasterXML jackson-databind?

Jackson-databind is a popular Java library designed to convert data between Java objects and formats like JSON. Developers use it to simplify how applications process, read, and write data from external sources. Because it is a foundational component for handling data structures in Java, it is embedded within many enterprise platforms, web servers, and cloud services, making it a critical piece of the software supply chain for many organizations.

What does CWE-502 mean for CVE-2018-14719?

CWE-502 represents Deserialization of Untrusted Data. In the context of this CVE, the library fails to properly restrict which classes can be instantiated during the deserialization process. This weakness allows an attacker to send a specially crafted message that tricks the application into creating unexpected objects, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution if the application processes that untrusted input.

How do attackers trigger this vulnerability?

An attacker triggers this flaw by sending a specifically formatted input payload to an application endpoint that relies on a vulnerable version of the library. The attack succeeds when the library is configured to allow polymorphic deserialization and fails to block certain specific classes, such as blaze-ds-opt or blaze-ds-core. If an application does not use these specific features or does not accept external input for deserialization, it may not be reachable via this path.

Why should I care about this as a Halo Surface Signal user?

Halo Surface Signal identifies this as a likely target because the library is frequently embedded in web-facing components that process incoming network traffic. Since the attack vector is network-based, any application using an affected version of jackson-databind that is exposed to the internet is at higher risk. Understanding this reachability is essential for prioritizing updates, as the vulnerability resides deep within the application stack rather than in a standalone product.

How do I respond to this threat?

The primary response is to identify and update the affected jackson-databind library. Since this component is usually a dependency bundled within larger software, check with your application vendors or review your build dependencies to see if your software uses a version before 2.9.7. Updating the library to a patched version is the standard way to ensure the deserialization process safely blocks the dangerous classes identified in this advisory.

References