OSGeo GeoServer GeoTools Eval Injection Vulnerability
OSGeo · GeoServer
OSGeo GeoServer, the open source geospatial data server, contains an unsafe evaluation flaw in its GeoTools library, where multiple OGC request parameters have property names passed unsafely to the commons-jxpath library as XPath expressions, affecting versions before 2.22.6, 2.23.6, 2.24.4, and 2.25.2. An unauthenticated remote attacker over the network can send specially crafted requests, such as WFS GetFeature, WMS GetMap, or WPS Execute, against a default installation to execute arbitrary code, with no user interaction or special configuration required.
GeoServer is an open source server that allows users to share and edit geospatial data. Prior to versions 2.22.6, 2.23.6, 2.24.4, and 2.25.2, multiple OGC request parameters allow Remote Code Execution (RCE) by unauthenticated users through specially crafted input against a default GeoServer installation due to unsafely evaluating property names as XPath expressions. The GeoTools library API that GeoServer calls evaluates property/attribute names for feature types in a way that unsafely passes them to the commons-jxpath library which can execute arbitrary code when evaluating XPath expressions. This XPath evaluation is intended to be used only by complex feature types (i.e., Application Schema data stores) but is incorrectly being applied to simple feature types as well which makes this vulnerability apply to **ALL** GeoServer instances. No public PoC is provided but this vulnerability has been confirmed to be exploitable through WFS GetFeature, WFS GetPropertyValue, WMS GetMap, WMS GetFeatureInfo, WMS GetLegendGraphic and WPS Execute requests. This vulnerability can lead to executing arbitrary code. Versions 2.22.6, 2.23.6, 2.24.4, and 2.25.2 contain a patch for the issue. A workaround exists by removing the `gt-complex-x.y.jar` file from the GeoServer where `x.y` is the GeoTools version (e.g., `gt-complex-31.1.jar` if running GeoServer 2.25.1). This will remove the vulnerable code from GeoServer but may break some GeoServer functionality or prevent GeoServer from deploying if the gt-complex module is needed.
- Exploited
- Yes, in CISA KEV
- Reports
- 0
- Tactics
- 2/15
How an attack unfolds
Based on MITRE ATT&CKA public catalogue of the techniques attackers use, maintained by MITRE. Patchfirst uses it to describe what attackers do with a vulnerability. mappings. Select a step to see the evidence.Exploitation timelineDated milestones for a CVE: when it was disclosed, when exploit code became public, when exploitation was confirmed, and when threat reports named it.
First seen exploited 14 days after disclosure. Public exploit code (Metasploit) was available the same day.
CISA KEV listing is when exploitation was confirmed, not necessarily the first attack.
Patch historyEarlier and later CVEs in the same code, in date order. It shows when a fix was bypassed or incomplete and which version finally fixed it.
See the family tree2 related vulnerabilities in the same code over 1 day. The latest fix listed for gs-wfs is 2.27.1.
Same bug familyLinked by evidence that a fix failed or the same code was patched again. Oldest first.
- This CVECVE-2024-36401OSGeo GeoServer GeoTools Eval Injection1 Jul 2024KEV
relatedHigh
Why these are linked: Link confidenceHow strong the evidence is that two CVEs are related. High: stated in the CVE text or linked in an advisory, or the same code was patched one release apart. Medium: the same code, or a version step plus a similar description. Low: similar description only.
- Linked in OSV/GitHub advisoryGHSA-w3pj-wh35-fq8w
- Linked in OSV/GitHub advisoryGHSA-6jj6-gm7p-fcvv
Fixes in gs-wfsMaven package, by fixed version. Earlier and later fixes in the same package, not necessarily the same bug.
- 2.20.4CVE-2023-3504212 Jun 2023
- 2.25.2CVE-2024-364011 Jul 2024KEV
- 2.25.2CVE-2024-2919810 Jun 2025
- 2.27.1CVE-2025-3022010 Jun 2025Latest listed
MITRE ATT&CKA public catalogue of the techniques attackers use, maintained by MITRE. Patchfirst uses it to describe what attackers do with a vulnerability. techniques
2 TechniqueOne specific attacker behaviour in MITRE ATT&CK, such as T1190 “Exploit Public-Facing Application”. IDs with a dot, like T1059.004, are sub-techniques., grouped by TacticThe attacker’s goal at a stage of an attack in MITRE ATT&CK, such as Initial Access or Persistence. Each technique belongs to one or more tactics. in kill-chain order, 2 cited passages 2Initial AccessTA0001
Unauthenticated exploitation via crafted OGC requests against public service
allow Remote Code Execution (RCE) by unauthenticated users through specially crafted input
ExecutionTA0002
Arbitrary code execution on the server
can execute arbitrary code when evaluating XPath expressions
Detection
0 rules for this CVE · 244 general rules for its techniquesRules for this CVE
0Sigma ruleAn open, vendor-neutral detection rule for log data. Security teams convert Sigma rules into searches for their own SIEM. that reference CVE-2024-36401 directly.CVE-specific rules are not available in this build. Search SigmaHQ ↗
General rules for this CVE’s techniques
These detect the technique in general, not this specific vulnerability.
Exploit Public-Facing ApplicationT1190149 general rules
- Arcadyan Router Exploitationscriticaltest
- Citrix ADS Exploitation CVE-2020-8193 CVE-2020-8195criticaltest
- Citrix Netscaler Attack CVE-2019-19781criticaltest
- Confluence Exploitation CVE-2019-3398criticaltest
- CVE-2010-5278 Exploitation Attemptcriticaltest
- CVE-2020-0688 Exchange Exploitation via Web Logcriticaltest
- CVE-2020-10148 SolarWinds Orion API Auth Bypasscriticaltest
- CVE-2020-5902 F5 BIG-IP Exploitation Attemptcriticaltest
Command and Scripting InterpreterT105995 general rules
- HackTool - Sliver C2 Implant Activity Patterncriticaltest
- Lazarus Group Activitycriticaltest
- REvil Kaseya Incident Malware Patternscriticaltest
- Turla Group Lateral Movementcriticaltest
- Windows Defender AMSI Trigger Detectedhighstable
- Windows Defender Threat Detectedhighstable
- Abusable DLL Potential Sideloading From Suspicious Locationhightest
- Add Insecure Download Source To Wingethightest
Sigma rules © SigmaHQ, Detection Rule License 1.1; linked, not reproduced.
Am I affected? What do I upgrade to?
From GitHub Security Advisories and OSV3 packages in 1 ecosystem. No single main package: each of these ships the affected code.
- Mavenorg.geoserver.web:gs-web-appAffected: 2.25.0 up to 2.25.2; 2.24.0 up to 2.24.4; 2.23.0 up to 2.23.6; All versions before 2.22.6Upgrade to 2.25.7 or later (older lines: 2.24.4, 2.23.6, 2.22.6)
- Mavenorg.geoserver:gs-wfsAffected: 2.25.0 up to 2.25.2; 2.24.0 up to 2.24.4; 2.23.0 up to 2.23.6; All versions before 2.22.6Upgrade to 2.25.7 or later (older lines: 2.24.4, 2.23.6, 2.22.6)
- Mavenorg.geoserver:gs-wmsAffected: 2.25.0 up to 2.25.2; 2.24.0 up to 2.24.4; 2.23.0 up to 2.23.6; All versions before 2.22.6Upgrade to 2.25.6 or later (older lines: 2.24.4, 2.23.6, 2.22.6)
What security researchers reported
Not named in any threat report yetAlso mentioned in 50 community threat pulses (AlienVault OTX)
Weaker evidencePulses are indicator collections that anyone can publish. A mention is not confirmation of exploitation.
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 30, 202629 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 29, 202628 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 28, 202627 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 27, 202626 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 24, 202623 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 23, 202622 Oct 2026
- 44 more on OTX