CVE-2016-6809: Tika core Apache Tika Allows Java Code Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-j8g6-2wh7-6439
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-502
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2016-6809 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) apache tika allows java code vulnerability (CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data) affecting Tika core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache tika allows java code execution for serialized objects embedded in matlab files. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.14.

CVE-2016-6809 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2016-6809
GHSA Identifier GHSA-j8g6-2wh7-6439
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data
Affected Product Tika core
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-2016-6809

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Tika core 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.tika:tika-core fixed: 1.14 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.tika</groupId>
    <artifactId>tika-core</artifactId>
    <version>1.14</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.tika

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2016-6809, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

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

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Tika core in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.14), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.tika 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 Tika core, 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 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.

CVE-2016-6809 Affected Tika core Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.14
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.tika:tika-core
maven/org.apache.tika/tika-core
Maven
< 1.14
1.14

References

NVD — CVE-2016-6809 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-6809
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/tika/commit/8a68b5d474205cc91cbbb610d4a1c05af57f0610
dist.apache.org/repos/dist/release/... WEB
https://dist.apache.org/repos/dist/release/tika/CHANGES-1.14.txt
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-j8g6-2wh7-6439
Tika core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/tika
lists.apache.org/thread.html/91eb639... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/91eb639ef619b9a26b40020ca6732e7dbe457f7322ed5f1df49e411a@%3Cdev.nutch.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/d2375da... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/d2375da29d89e679abf5d845db76d6f798fdc6f7d44f2c788e8a0fb9@%3Cuser.nutch.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/e414754... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/e414754a6c57ce7194b731e211cd6b2cbb41f2c7000e3fb9c6b6ec78@%3Cdev.lucene.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2f6f6c... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2f6f6c130b12b7332f323f74d031072b1517065ce28a22346791ffb6@%3Cissues.lucene.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rfd3646... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rfd3646bb724b66b1a9ddef69e692da2b7a727a8799551c78eedf0a0f@%3Cissues.lucene.apache.org%3E
seclists.org/bugtraq/2016/nov/40 WEB
http://seclists.org/bugtraq/2016/Nov/40
Tika core Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94247

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-6809?
CVE-2016-6809 is a security vulnerability in Tika core involving Apache Tika allows Java code execution for serialized objects embedded in MATLAB files under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data.
Which Tika core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.14 across affected packages: org.apache.tika:tika-core.
What version fixes CVE-2016-6809?
Upgrading to 1.14 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is tika-core affected?
Yes, org.apache.tika:tika-core is affected in releases prior to 1.14. Upgrade your dependency to 1.14 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2016-6809?
CVE-2016-6809 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-2016-6809?
CVE-2016-6809 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-2016-6809?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.tika'. 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 
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  "id" : "GHSA-j8g6-2wh7-6439",
  "modified" : "2024-04-12T21:33:27Z",
  "published" : "2018-10-17T15:44:36Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2016-6809" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Tika allows Java code execution for serialized objects embedded in MATLAB files",
  "details" : "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.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
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  }, {
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  }, {
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    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/e414754a6c57ce7194b731e211cd6b2cbb41f2c7000e3fb9c6b6ec78@%3Cdev.lucene.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2f6f6c130b12b7332f323f74d031072b1517065ce28a22346791ffb6@%3Cissues.lucene.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rfd3646bb724b66b1a9ddef69e692da2b7a727a8799551c78eedf0a0f@%3Cissues.lucene.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://seclists.org/bugtraq/2016/Nov/40"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94247"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-502" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-06-16T21:42:46Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}