CVE-2017-1000487: Plexus utils OS Command Injection Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-8vhq-qq4p-grq3
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-78
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2017-1000487 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) os command injection vulnerability (CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')) affecting Plexus utils libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves os command injection in plexus-utils. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.0.16.

CVE-2017-1000487 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2017-1000487
GHSA Identifier GHSA-8vhq-qq4p-grq3
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Affected Product Plexus utils
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2017-1000487

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Plexus utils dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

org.codehaus.plexus:plexus-utils fixed: 3.0.16 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.codehaus.plexus</groupId>
    <artifactId>plexus-utils</artifactId>
    <version>3.0.16</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.codehaus.plexus

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2017-1000487, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.codehaus.plexus

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Plexus utils in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 3.0.16), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.codehaus.plexus command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of an os command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended os command when it is sent to a downstream component. In Plexus utils, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

Plexus-utils before 3.0.16 is vulnerable to command injection because it does not correctly process the contents of double quoted strings.

CVE-2017-1000487 Affected Plexus utils Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.0.16
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.codehaus.plexus:plexus-utils
maven/org.codehaus.plexus/plexus-utils
Maven
< 3.0.16
3.0.16

References

NVD — CVE-2017-1000487 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-1000487
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/codehaus-plexus/plexus-utils/commit/b38a1b3a4352303e4312b2bb601a0d7ec6e28f41
Plexus utils Security Information SECURITY
https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4149
Plexus utils Security Information SECURITY
https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4146
snyk.io/vuln/snyk-java-orgc... WEB
https://snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JAVA-ORGCODEHAUSPLEXUS-31522
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce... WEB
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/01/msg00011.html
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce... WEB
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/01/msg00010.html
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rd0e44e... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rd0e44e8ef71eeaaa3cf3d1b8b41eb25894372e2995ec908ce7624d26@%3Ccommits.pulsar.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rd0e44e... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rd0e44e8ef71eeaaa3cf3d1b8b41eb25894372e2995ec908ce7624d26%40%3Ccommits.pulsar.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r9584c4... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r9584c4304c888f651d214341a939bd264ed30c9e3d0d30fe85097ecf@%3Ccommits.pulsar.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r9584c4... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r9584c4304c888f651d214341a939bd264ed30c9e3d0d30fe85097ecf%40%3Ccommits.pulsar.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2e94f7... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2e94f72f53df432302d359fd66cfa9e9efb8d42633d54579a4377e62@%3Cdev.avro.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2e94f7... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2e94f72f53df432302d359fd66cfa9e9efb8d42633d54579a4377e62%40%3Cdev.avro.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/9317fd0... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/9317fd092b257a0815434b116a8af8daea6e920b6673f4fd5583d5fe@%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/9317fd0... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/9317fd092b257a0815434b116a8af8daea6e920b6673f4fd5583d5fe%40%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E
Plexus utils Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/codehaus-plexus/plexus-utils
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2018:13... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:1322

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-1000487?
CVE-2017-1000487 is a security vulnerability in Plexus utils involving OS Command Injection in Plexus-utils under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection').
Which Plexus utils versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.0.16 across affected packages: org.codehaus.plexus:plexus-utils.
What version fixes CVE-2017-1000487?
Upgrading to 3.0.16 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is plexus-utils affected?
Yes, org.codehaus.plexus:plexus-utils is affected in releases prior to 3.0.16. Upgrade your dependency to 3.0.16 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2017-1000487?
CVE-2017-1000487 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2017-1000487?
CVE-2017-1000487 is classified under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') (The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command when it is sent to a downstream component.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2017-1000487?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.codehaus.plexus'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-8vhq-qq4p-grq3",
  "modified" : "2024-10-10T21:30:40Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:11:53Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2017-1000487" ],
  "summary" : "OS Command Injection in Plexus-utils",
  "details" : "Plexus-utils before 3.0.16 is vulnerable to command injection because it does not correctly process the contents of double quoted strings.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.codehaus.plexus:plexus-utils"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.0.16"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-1000487"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/codehaus-plexus/plexus-utils/commit/b38a1b3a4352303e4312b2bb601a0d7ec6e28f41"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4149"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4146"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JAVA-ORGCODEHAUSPLEXUS-31522"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/01/msg00011.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/01/msg00010.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rd0e44e8ef71eeaaa3cf3d1b8b41eb25894372e2995ec908ce7624d26@%3Ccommits.pulsar.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rd0e44e8ef71eeaaa3cf3d1b8b41eb25894372e2995ec908ce7624d26%40%3Ccommits.pulsar.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r9584c4304c888f651d214341a939bd264ed30c9e3d0d30fe85097ecf@%3Ccommits.pulsar.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r9584c4304c888f651d214341a939bd264ed30c9e3d0d30fe85097ecf%40%3Ccommits.pulsar.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2e94f72f53df432302d359fd66cfa9e9efb8d42633d54579a4377e62@%3Cdev.avro.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2e94f72f53df432302d359fd66cfa9e9efb8d42633d54579a4377e62%40%3Cdev.avro.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/9317fd092b257a0815434b116a8af8daea6e920b6673f4fd5583d5fe@%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/9317fd092b257a0815434b116a8af8daea6e920b6673f4fd5583d5fe%40%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/codehaus-plexus/plexus-utils"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:1322"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-78" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-07-01T21:47:32Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2018-01-03T20:29:00Z"
  }
}