CVE-2016-6814
Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Groovy
When an application with unsupported Codehaus versions of Groovy from 1.7.0 to 2.4.3, Apache Groovy 2.4.4 to 2.4.7 on classpath uses standard Java serialization mechanisms, e.g. to communicate between servers or to store local data, it was possible for an attacker to bake a special serialized object that will execute code directly when deserialized. All applications which rely on serialization and do not isolate the code which deserializes objects were subject to this vulnerability.
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
What each source reports
NVD Score used
9.8
When an application with unsupported Codehaus versions of Groovy from 1.7.0 to 2.4.3, Apache Groovy 2.4.4 to 2.4.7 on classpath uses standard Java serialization mechanisms, e.g. to communicate between servers or to store local data, it was possible for an attacker to bake a special serialized object that will execute code directly when deserialized. All applications which rely on serialization and do not isolate the code which deserializes objects were subject to this vulnerability.
- Record
CVE-2016-6814- CVSS 3.0
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 7.5 High
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P - Weakness
- CWE-502
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
When an application with unsupported Codehaus versions of Groovy from 1.7.0 to 2.4.3, Apache Groovy 2.4.4 to 2.4.7 on classpath uses standard Java serialization mechanisms, e.g. to communicate between servers or to store local data, it was possible for an attacker to bake a special serialized object that will execute code directly when deserialized. All applications which rely on serialization and do not isolate the code which deserializes objects were subject to this vulnerability.
- Record
CVE-2016-6814- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2022-5835 No score
When an application with unsupported Codehaus versions of Groovy from 1.7.0 to 2.4.3, Apache Groovy 2.4.4 to 2.4.7 on classpath uses standard Java serialization mechanisms, e.g. to communicate between servers or to store local data, it was possible for an attacker to bake a special serialized object that will execute code directly when deserialized. All applications which rely on serialization and do not isolate the code which deserializes objects were subject to this vulnerability.
- Record
EUVD-2022-5835- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-xphj-m9cc-8fmq
9.8
Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Groovy
When an application with unsupported Codehaus versions of Groovy from 1.7.0 to 2.4.3, Apache Groovy 2.4.4 to 2.4.7 on classpath uses standard Java serialization mechanisms, e.g. to communicate between servers or to store local data, it was possible for an attacker to bake a special serialized object that will execute code directly when deserialized. All applications which rely on serialization and do not isolate the code which deserializes objects were subject to this vulnerability.
- Record
GHSA-xphj-m9cc-8fmq- CVSS 3.0
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-502
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
9.8
When an application with unsupported Codehaus versions of Groovy from 1.7.0 to 2.4.3, Apache Groovy 2.4.4 to 2.4.7 on classpath uses standard Java serialization mechanisms, e.g. to communicate between servers or to store local data, it was possible for an attacker to bake a special serialized object that will execute code directly when deserialized. All applications which rely on serialization and do not isolate the code which deserializes objects were subject to this vulnerability.
- Record
CVE-2016-6814- CVSS 3.0
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2016-6814
9.8
When an application with unsupported Codehaus versions of Groovy from 1.7.0 to 2.4.3, Apache Groovy 2.4.4 to 2.4.7 on classpath uses standard Java serialization mechanisms, e.g. to communicate between servers or to store local data, it was possible for an attacker to bake a special serialized object that will execute code directly when deserialized. All applications which rely on serialization and do not isolate the code which deserializes objects were subject to this vulnerability.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2016-6814- CVSS 3.0
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Show 6 moreShow less
OSVGHSA-xphj-m9cc-8fmq
9.8
Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Groovy
When an application with unsupported Codehaus versions of Groovy from 1.7.0 to 2.4.3, Apache Groovy 2.4.4 to 2.4.7 on classpath uses standard Java serialization mechanisms, e.g. to communicate between servers or to store local data, it was possible for an attacker to bake a special serialized object that will execute code directly when deserialized. All applications which rely on serialization and do not isolate the code which deserializes objects were subject to this vulnerability.
- Record
GHSA-xphj-m9cc-8fmq- CVSS 3.0
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-502
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVRHSA-2017:2486
9.6
Red Hat Security Advisory: groovy security update
- Record
RHSA-2017:2486- CVSS 3.0
- 9.6 Critical
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVRHSA-2017:2596
9.6
Red Hat Security Advisory: rh-maven33-groovy security update
- Record
RHSA-2017:2596- CVSS 3.0
- 9.6 Critical
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2016-6814
9.8
When an application with unsupported Codehaus versions of Groovy from 1.7.0 to 2.4.3, Apache Groovy 2.4.4 to 2.4.7 on classpath uses standard Java serialization mechanisms, e.g. to communicate between servers or to store local data, it was possible for an attacker to bake a special serialized object that will execute code directly when deserialized. All applications which rely on serialization and do not isolate the code which deserializes objects were subject to this vulnerability.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2016-6814- CVSS 3.0
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVMGASA-2017-0311 No score
Updated groovy and groovy18 packages fix security vulnerability
It was found that a flaw in Apache groovy library allows remote code execution wherever deserialization occurs in the application. It is possible for an attacker to craft a special serialized object that will execute code directly when deserialized. All applications which rely on serialization and do not isolate the code which deserializes objects are subject to this vulnerability (CVE-2016-6814).
- Record
MGASA-2017-0311- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUSN-4795-1 No score
groovy2 vulnerability
It was discovered that Apache Groovy incorrectly handled serialization mechanisms. An attacker could possibly use this issue to execute arbitrary code.
- Record
USN-4795-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
org.codehaus.groovy:groovyMaven |
1.7.0 to 2.4.7 | 2.4.8 |
org.codehaus.groovy:groovy-allMaven |
1.7.0 to 2.4.7 | 2.4.8 |
groovyDebian:12 |
before 2.4.8-1 | 2.4.8-1 |
groovyDebian:13 |
before 2.4.8-1 | 2.4.8-1 |
groovyDebian:14 |
before 2.4.8-1 | 2.4.8-1 |
groovyDebian:7 |
before 1.8.6-1+deb7u2, plus listed versions 1.8.6-11.8.6-1+deb7u1 |
1.8.6-1+deb7u2 |
org.codehaus.groovy:groovyMaven |
1.7.0 up to 2.4.8, plus listed versions 1.7.11.7.101.7.111.7.21.7.3 Show 45 moreShow less1.7.41.7.51.7.61.7.71.7.81.7.91.8.01.8.0-beta-11.8.0-beta-21.8.0-beta-31.8.0-beta-41.8.0-rc-11.8.0-rc-21.8.0-rc-31.8.0-rc-41.8.11.8.21.8.31.8.41.8.51.8.61.8.71.8.81.8.91.9.0-beta-11.9.0-beta-21.9.0-beta-31.9.0-beta-42.0.02.0.0-beta-12.0.0-beta-22.0.0-beta-32.0.0-rc-12.0.0-rc-22.0.0-rc-32.0.0-rc-42.0.12.0.22.0.32.0.42.0.52.0.62.0.72.0.82.1.0 |
2.4.8 |
org.codehaus.groovy:groovy-allMaven |
1.7.0 up to 2.4.8, plus listed versions 1.7.11.7.101.7.111.7.21.7.3 Show 45 moreShow less1.7.41.7.51.7.61.7.71.7.81.7.91.8.01.8.0-beta-11.8.0-beta-21.8.0-beta-31.8.0-beta-41.8.0-rc-11.8.0-rc-21.8.0-rc-31.8.0-rc-41.8.11.8.21.8.2-jenkins-11.8.31.8.41.8.51.8.61.8.71.8.81.8.91.9.0-beta-11.9.0-beta-21.9.0-beta-31.9.0-beta-42.0.02.0.0-beta-12.0.0-beta-22.0.0-beta-32.0.0-rc-12.0.0-rc-22.0.0-rc-32.0.0-rc-42.0.12.0.22.0.32.0.42.0.52.0.62.0.72.0.8 |
2.4.8 |
groovyMageia:5 |
before 1.8.9-5.2.mga5 | 1.8.9-5.2.mga5 |
groovy18Mageia:6 |
before 1.8.9-26.1.mga6 | 1.8.9-26.1.mga6 |
Show 14 moreShow less
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
groovyRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client |
before 0:1.8.9-8.el7_4 | 0:1.8.9-8.el7_4 |
groovy-javadocRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client |
before 0:1.8.9-8.el7_4 | 0:1.8.9-8.el7_4 |
groovyRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode |
before 0:1.8.9-8.el7_4 | 0:1.8.9-8.el7_4 |
groovy-javadocRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode |
before 0:1.8.9-8.el7_4 | 0:1.8.9-8.el7_4 |
groovyRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server |
before 0:1.8.9-8.el7_4 | 0:1.8.9-8.el7_4 |
groovy-javadocRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server |
before 0:1.8.9-8.el7_4 | 0:1.8.9-8.el7_4 |
groovyRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation |
before 0:1.8.9-8.el7_4 | 0:1.8.9-8.el7_4 |
groovy-javadocRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation |
before 0:1.8.9-8.el7_4 | 0:1.8.9-8.el7_4 |
rh-maven33-groovyRed Hat:rhel_software_collections:2::el6 |
before 0:1.8.9-7.19.el6 | 0:1.8.9-7.19.el6 |
rh-maven33-groovy-javadocRed Hat:rhel_software_collections:2::el6 |
before 0:1.8.9-7.19.el6 | 0:1.8.9-7.19.el6 |
rh-maven33-groovyRed Hat:rhel_software_collections:2::el7 |
before 0:1.8.9-7.19.el7 | 0:1.8.9-7.19.el7 |
rh-maven33-groovy-javadocRed Hat:rhel_software_collections:2::el7 |
before 0:1.8.9-7.19.el7 | 0:1.8.9-7.19.el7 |
groovy2Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS |
before 2.4.5-1ubuntu0.1~esm1, plus listed versions 2.4.3+dfsg-2ubuntu12.4.3+dfsg-32.4.5-1 |
2.4.5-1ubuntu0.1~esm1 |
groovyUbuntu:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.0.0~beta2+isreally1.8.6-4ubuntu1 |
None known |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2016-6814 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.8) in Apache Groovy, published January 22, 2017. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 17.2%, the 97th percentile. Fixed in org.codehaus.groovy:groovy 2.4.8.
References
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2596
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:0868
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2486
rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017-0272.html
securityfocus.com/bid/95429
securitytracker.com/id/1039600
Show 31 moreShow less
security.gentoo.org/glsa/202003-01
oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2018-4258247.html
oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2018-3678067.html
oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2018-4428296.html
oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2020.html
oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujan2019-5072801.html
oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2019-5072835.html
oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2019-5072832.html
oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2020.html
mail-archives.apache.org/mod_mbox/www-announce/201701.mbox/%3CCADRx3PMZ2hBCGDTY35zYXFGaDnjAs0tc5-upaVs6QN2sYUejyA%40mail.gmail.com%3E
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-6814
github.com/advisories/GHSA-xphj-m9cc-8fmq
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-6814
advisories.mageia.org/MGASA-2017-0311.html
bugs.mageia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=20121
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/thread/GLUK73YU2ETK7USTPIIC4YQT3BYKGEOB
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/thread/A5FSJEOEIYPZDGJRMEPJPMUMDN4MQQJI
access.redhat.com/security/updates/classification
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1413466
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2017/rhsa-2017_2486.json
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2015-3253
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1243934
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2015-3253
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-3253
seclists.org/oss-sec/2015/q3/121
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-6814
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-6814
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2017/rhsa-2017_2596.json
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-6814
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/01/14/3
ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-4795-1
Left out here: 106 versions. The JSON record has them.