Every CVE Search/ Get API key

CVE-2023-35042

GeoServer RCE due to improper control of generation of code in jai-ext`Jiffle` map algebra language

9.8 CriticalFix availableDisputed

GeoServer 2, in some configurations, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via java.lang.Runtime.getRuntime().exec in wps:LiteralData within a wps:Execute request, as exploited in the wild in June 2023. NOTE: the vendor states that they are unable to reproduce this in any version.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
None
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

44.8%Up 44.8 points since Jun 13, 2023
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

NVD Score used 9.8

GeoServer 2, in some configurations, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via java.lang.Runtime.getRuntime().exec in wps:LiteralData within a wps:Execute request, as exploited in the wild in June 2023. NOTE: the vendor states that they are unable to reproduce this in any version.

Record
CVE-2023-35042
CVSS 3.1
9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
CVE List No score

GeoServer 2, in some configurations, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via java.lang.Runtime.getRuntime().exec in wps:LiteralData within a wps:Execute request, as exploited in the wild in June 2023. NOTE: the vendor states that they are unable to reproduce this in any version.

Record
CVE-2023-35042
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2023-1696 No score

GeoServer 2, in some configurations, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via java.lang.Runtime.getRuntime().exec in wps:LiteralData within a wps:Execute request, as exploited in the wild in June 2023. NOTE: the vendor states that they are unable to reproduce this in any version.

Record
EUVD-2023-1696
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-59x6-g4jr-4hxc 9.8

GeoServer RCE due to improper control of generation of code in jai-ext`Jiffle` map algebra language

GeoServer 2, in some configurations, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via java.lang.Runtime.getRuntime().exec in wps:LiteralData within a wps:Execute request, as exploited in the wild in June 2023.

RCE in Jiffle

The Jiffle map algebra language, provided by jai-ext, allows efficiently execute map algebra over large images. A vulnerability CVE-2022-24816 has been recently found in Jiffle, that allows a Code Injection to be performed by properly crafting a Jiffle invocation.

In the case of GeoServer, the injection can be performed from a remote request.

Assessment

GeoTools includes the Jiffle language as part of the gt-process-raster-<version> module, applications using it should check whether it’s possible to provide a Jiffle script from remote, and if so, upgrade or remove the functionality (see also the GeoServer mitigation, below).

The issue is of particular interest for GeoServer users, as GeoServer embeds Jiffle in the base WAR package. Jiffle is available as a OGC function, for usage in SLD rendering transformations.

This allows for a Remote Code Execution in properly crafted OGC requests, as well as from the administration console, when editing SLD files.

Mitigations

In case you cannot upgrade at once, then the following mitigation is strongly recommended:

  1. Stop GeoServer
  2. Open the war file, get into WEB-INF/lib and remove the janino-<version>.jar
  3. Restart GeoServer.

This effectively removes the Jiffle ability to compile scripts in Java code, from any of the potential attack vectors (Janino is the library used to turn the Java code generated from the Jiffle script, into executable bytecode).

GeoServer should still work properly after the removal, but any attempt to use Jiffle will result in an exception.

Record
GHSA-59x6-g4jr-4hxc
CVSS 3.1
9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-59x6-g4jr-4hxc 9.8

GeoServer RCE due to improper control of generation of code in jai-ext`Jiffle` map algebra language

GeoServer 2, in some configurations, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via java.lang.Runtime.getRuntime().exec in wps:LiteralData within a wps:Execute request, as exploited in the wild in June 2023.

RCE in Jiffle

The Jiffle map algebra language, provided by jai-ext, allows efficiently execute map algebra over large images. A vulnerability CVE-2022-24816 has been recently found in Jiffle, that allows a Code Injection to be performed by properly crafting a Jiffle invocation.

In the case of GeoServer, the injection can be performed from a remote request.

Assessment

GeoTools includes the Jiffle language as part of the gt-process-raster-<version> module, applications using it should check whether it’s possible to provide a Jiffle script from remote, and if so, upgrade or remove the functionality (see also the GeoServer mitigation, below).

The issue is of particular interest for GeoServer users, as GeoServer embeds Jiffle in the base WAR package. Jiffle is available as a OGC function, for usage in SLD rendering transformations.

This allows for a Remote Code Execution in properly crafted OGC requests, as well as from the administration console, when editing SLD files.

Mitigations

In case you cannot upgrade at once, then the following mitigation is strongly recommended:

  1. Stop GeoServer
  2. Open the war file, get into WEB-INF/lib and remove the janino-<version>.jar
  3. Restart GeoServer.

This effectively removes the Jiffle ability to compile scripts in Java code, from any of the potential attack vectors (Janino is the library used to turn the Java code generated from the Jiffle script, into executable bytecode).

GeoServer should still work properly after the removal, but any attempt to use Jiffle will result in an exception.

Record
GHSA-59x6-g4jr-4hxc
CVSS 3.1
9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
org.geoserver:gs-wms
Maven
before 2.18.6
2.18.6
org.geoserver:gs-wfs
Maven
before 2.18.6
2.18.6
org.geoserver:gs-wms
Maven
2.19.0 up to 2.19.6
2.19.6
org.geoserver:gs-wfs
Maven
2.19.0 up to 2.19.6
2.19.6
org.geoserver:gs-wms
Maven
2.20.0 up to 2.20.4
2.20.4
org.geoserver:gs-wfs
Maven
2.20.0 up to 2.20.4
2.20.4
org.geoserver:gs-wps
Maven
before 2.18.6
2.18.6
org.geoserver:gs-wps
Maven
2.19.0 up to 2.19.6
2.19.6
org.geoserver:gs-wps
Maven
2.20.0 up to 2.20.4
2.20.4

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2023-35042 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.8) in Geoserver, published June 12, 2023. Its validity is disputed. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 44.8%, the 98th percentile. Fixed in org.geoserver:gs-wms 2.18.6.

References

MoveEnter Open