CVE-2016-6809

Apache Tika allows Java code execution for serialized objects embedded in MATLAB files

9.8 CriticalFix available

Apache Tika before 1.14 allows Java code execution for serialized objects embedded in MATLAB files. The issue exists because Tika invokes JMatIO to do native deserialization.

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

8.03%Up 3.3 points since Feb 4, 2022

What each source reports

NVD Score used 9.8

Apache Tika before 1.14 allows Java code execution for serialized objects embedded in MATLAB files. The issue exists because Tika invokes JMatIO to do native deserialization.

Record: CVE-2016-6809
CVSS 3.1: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0: 7.5 HighAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
Weakness: CWE-502
Updated: 2026-11-02

CVE List No score

Apache Tika before 1.14 allows Java code execution for serialized objects embedded in MATLAB files. The issue exists because Tika invokes JMatIO to do native deserialization.

Record: CVE-2016-6809
Updated: 2026-11-02

EUVDEUVD-2018-0628 No score

Apache Tika before 1.14 allows Java code execution for serialized objects embedded in MATLAB files. The issue exists because Tika invokes JMatIO to do native deserialization.

Record: EUVD-2018-0628
Updated: 2026-11-03

GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-j8g6-2wh7-6439 9.8

Apache Tika allows Java code execution for serialized objects embedded in MATLAB files

Apache Tika before 1.14 allows Java code execution for serialized objects embedded in MATLAB files. The issue exists because Tika invokes JMatIO to do native deserialization.

Record: GHSA-j8g6-2wh7-6439
CVSS 3.1: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/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

Apache Tika before 1.14 allows Java code execution for serialized objects embedded in MATLAB files. The issue exists because Tika invokes JMatIO to do native deserialization.

Record: CVE-2016-6809
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

OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2016-6809 9.8

Apache Tika before 1.14 allows Java code execution for serialized objects embedded in MATLAB files. The issue exists because Tika invokes JMatIO to do native deserialization.

Record: DEBIAN-CVE-2016-6809
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-j8g6-2wh7-6439 9.8

Apache Tika allows Java code execution for serialized objects embedded in MATLAB files

Apache Tika before 1.14 allows Java code execution for serialized objects embedded in MATLAB files. The issue exists because Tika invokes JMatIO to do native deserialization.

Record: GHSA-j8g6-2wh7-6439
CVSS 3.1: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness: CWE-502
Updated: 2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
Package	Affected	Fixed
`org.apache.tika:tika-core` Maven	before 1.14	1.14
`tika` Debian:11	before 1.18-1	1.18-1
`org.apache.tika:tika-core` Maven	before 1.14, plus listed versions 0.100.40.50.60.7 Show 16 moreShow less 0.80.91.01.11.101.111.121.131.21.31.41.51.61.71.81.9	1.14

History

History
Recorded	Changed	Sources
Nov 3, 2026	aliases	EUVD
Nov 2, 2026	first indexed	CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

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

In short

CVE-2016-6809 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.8) in Apache Tika, published April 6, 2017. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 8.03%, the 94th percentile. Fixed in org.apache.tika:tika-core 1.14.

References

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