CVE-2015-3253: Groovy Improper Neutralization Of Special Elements Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-qg25-hgjv-cg9q
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-74
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2015-3253 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) improper neutralization of special elements vulnerability (CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')) affecting Groovy libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves improper neutralization of special elements in output used by a downstream component in apache groovy. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.4.4.

CVE-2015-3253 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2015-3253
GHSA Identifier GHSA-qg25-hgjv-cg9q
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')
Affected Product Groovy
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:3.0/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-2015-3253

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Groovy 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.groovy:groovy fixed: 2.4.4 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.codehaus.groovy</groupId>
    <artifactId>groovy</artifactId>
    <version>2.4.4</version>
</dependency>
org.codehaus.groovy:groovy-all fixed: 2.4.4 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.codehaus.groovy</groupId>
    <artifactId>groovy-all</artifactId>
    <version>2.4.4</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.groovy

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2015-3253, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

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

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Groovy in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.4.4), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.codehaus.groovy 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-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of a command, data structure, or record using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify how it is parsed or interpreted when it is sent to a downstream component. In Groovy, 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

The MethodClosure class in runtime/MethodClosure.java in Apache Groovy 1.7.0 through 2.4.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service via a crafted serialized object.

CVE-2015-3253 Affected Groovy Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.4.4
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.codehaus.groovy:groovy
maven/org.codehaus.groovy/groovy
Maven
≥ 1.7.0
< 2.4.4
2.4.4
org.codehaus.groovy:groovy-all
maven/org.codehaus.groovy/groovy-all
Maven
≥ 1.7.0
< 2.4.4
2.4.4

References

NVD — CVE-2015-3253 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-3253
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2016:13... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016:1376
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2017:24... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2486
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2017:25... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2596
Groovy Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/groovy
h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/pu... WEB
https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05324755
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rbb8e16... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rbb8e16cc5acab183124572b655bdf5fe1d5b5f477dc267352426c7ed@%3Cnotifications.shardingsphere.apache.org%3E
Groovy Security Information SECURITY
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201610-01
Groovy Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20160623-0001
Groovy Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2020.html
Groovy Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2019-5072813.html
Groovy Security Information SECURITY
http://groovy-lang.org/security.html
Groovy Security Information SECURITY
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/132714/Apache-Groovy-2.4.3-Code-Execution.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2016-00... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-0066.html
Groovy Security Information SECURITY
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2016v3-2985753.html
Groovy Security Information SECURITY
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujan2018-3236628.html
Groovy Security Information SECURITY
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2016-2881720.html
Groovy Security Information SECURITY
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2017-3236622.html
Groovy Security Information SECURITY
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2016-2881722.html
Groovy Security Information SECURITY
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2017-3236626.html
www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/zdi-15-3... WEB
http://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-15-365

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2015-3253?
CVE-2015-3253 is a security vulnerability in Groovy involving Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component in Apache Groovy under CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection').
Which Groovy versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.4.4 across affected packages: org.codehaus.groovy:groovy, org.codehaus.groovy:groovy-all.
What version fixes CVE-2015-3253?
Upgrading to 2.4.4 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is groovy affected?
Yes, org.codehaus.groovy:groovy is affected in releases prior to 2.4.4. Upgrade your dependency to 2.4.4 or later.
Is groovy-all affected?
Yes, org.codehaus.groovy:groovy-all is affected in releases prior to 2.4.4. Upgrade your dependency to 2.4.4 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2015-3253?
CVE-2015-3253 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2015-3253?
CVE-2015-3253 is classified under CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection') (The product constructs all or part of a command, data structure, or record using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify how it is parsed or interpreted when it is sent to a downstream component.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2015-3253?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.codehaus.groovy'. 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-qg25-hgjv-cg9q",
  "modified" : "2024-10-17T16:17:24Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:25:41Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2015-3253" ],
  "summary" : "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component in Apache Groovy",
  "details" : "The MethodClosure class in runtime/MethodClosure.java in Apache Groovy 1.7.0 through 2.4.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service via a crafted serialized object.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.codehaus.groovy:groovy"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "1.7.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.4.4"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 2.4.3"
    }
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.codehaus.groovy:groovy-all"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "1.7.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.4.4"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 2.4.3"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-3253"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016:1376"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2486"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2596"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/groovy"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05324755"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rbb8e16cc5acab183124572b655bdf5fe1d5b5f477dc267352426c7ed@%3Cnotifications.shardingsphere.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201610-01"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20160623-0001"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2020.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2019-5072813.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://groovy-lang.org/security.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/132714/Apache-Groovy-2.4.3-Code-Execution.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-0066.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2016v3-2985753.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujan2018-3236628.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2016-2881720.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2017-3236622.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2016-2881722.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2017-3236626.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-15-365"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-74" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-07-06T20:16:53Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2015-08-13T14:59:00Z"
  }
}