CVE-2020-11973: Camel netty Apache Camel Netty Enables Java Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-h79p-32mx-fjj9
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-502
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-11973 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) apache camel netty enables java vulnerability (CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data) affecting Camel netty libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache camel netty enables java deserialization by default. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.2.0.

CVE-2020-11973 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-11973
GHSA Identifier GHSA-h79p-32mx-fjj9
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data
Affected Product Camel netty
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-2020-11973

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Camel netty 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.apache.camel:camel-netty fixed: 3.2.0 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.camel</groupId>
    <artifactId>camel-netty</artifactId>
    <version>3.2.0</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.apache.camel

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2020-11973, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.camel

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Camel netty in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 3.2.0), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.camel 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-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data, where the product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid. In Camel netty, 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

Apache Camel Netty enables Java deserialization by default. Apache Camel 2.22.x, 2.23.x, 2.24.x, 2.25.0, 3.0.0 up to 3.1.0 are affected. 2.x users should upgrade to 2.25.1, 3.x users should upgrade to 3.2.0.

CVE-2020-11973 Affected Camel netty Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.2.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.camel:camel-netty
maven/org.apache.camel/camel-netty
Maven
≥ 3.0.0
< 3.2.0
3.2.0

References

NVD — CVE-2020-11973 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-11973
Camel netty Security Information SECURITY
https://camel.apache.org/security/CVE-2020-11973.html
Camel netty Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/camel
Camel netty Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html
Camel netty Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuApr2021.html
Camel netty Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2021.html
Camel netty Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2020.html
Camel netty Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/05/14/9

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-11973?
CVE-2020-11973 is a security vulnerability in Camel netty involving Apache Camel Netty enables Java deserialization by default under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data.
Which Camel netty versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.2.0 across affected packages: org.apache.camel:camel-netty.
What version fixes CVE-2020-11973?
Upgrading to 3.2.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is camel-netty affected?
Yes, org.apache.camel:camel-netty is affected in releases prior to 3.2.0. Upgrade your dependency to 3.2.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-11973?
CVE-2020-11973 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-2020-11973?
CVE-2020-11973 is classified under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data (The product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2020-11973?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.camel'. 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-h79p-32mx-fjj9",
  "modified" : "2022-10-06T18:15:00Z",
  "published" : "2020-05-21T21:09:04Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-11973" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Camel Netty enables Java deserialization by default",
  "details" : "Apache Camel Netty enables Java deserialization by default. Apache Camel 2.22.x, 2.23.x, 2.24.x, 2.25.0, 3.0.0 up to 3.1.0 are affected. 2.x users should upgrade to 2.25.1, 3.x users should upgrade to 3.2.0.",
  "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.apache.camel:camel-netty"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.2.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-11973"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://camel.apache.org/security/CVE-2020-11973.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/camel"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuApr2021.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2021.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2020.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/05/14/9"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-502" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-05-21T17:42:21Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2020-05-14T17:15:00Z"
  }
}