CVE-2022-35912: Grails databinding Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-6rh6-x8ww-9h97
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CVSS 9.8
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2022-35912 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) remote code execution vulnerability (General Security Weakness) affecting Grails databinding libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves grails framework remote code execution via data binding. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.3.15, 4.1.1, 5.1.9, 5.2.1.

CVE-2022-35912 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2022-35912
GHSA Identifier GHSA-6rh6-x8ww-9h97
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification General Security Weakness
Affected Product Grails databinding
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-2022-35912

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Grails databinding 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.grails:grails-databinding fixed: 3.3.15 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.grails</groupId>
    <artifactId>grails-databinding</artifactId>
    <version>3.3.15</version>
</dependency>
org.grails:grails-databinding fixed: 4.1.1 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.grails</groupId>
    <artifactId>grails-databinding</artifactId>
    <version>4.1.1</version>
</dependency>
org.grails:grails-databinding fixed: 5.1.9 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.grails</groupId>
    <artifactId>grails-databinding</artifactId>
    <version>5.1.9</version>
</dependency>
org.grails:grails-databinding fixed: 5.2.1 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.grails</groupId>
    <artifactId>grails-databinding</artifactId>
    <version>5.2.1</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.grails

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2022-35912, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.grails

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Grails databinding in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 3.3.15), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.grails 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 General Security Weakness. In Grails databinding, 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

### Impact A vulnerability has been discovered in the Grails data-binding logic which allows for Remote Code Execution in a Grails application. This exploit requires the application to be running on Java 8, either deployed as a WAR to a servlet container, or an executable JAR. ### Patches Grails framework versions 5.2.1, 5.1.9, 4.1.1, and 3.3.15 ### References https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-35912 https://grails.org/blog/2022-07-18-rce-vulnerability.html ### For more information If you have any questions or comments about this advisory: * https://grails.org/blog/2022-07-18-rce-vulnerability.html * https://github.com/grails/grails-core/issues/12626 * Email us at [info@grails.org](mailto:info@grails.org) ### Credit This vulnerability was discovered by [meizjm3i](https://github.com/meizjm3i) and [codeplutos](https://github.com/codeplutos) of AntGroup FG Security Lab

CVE-2022-35912 Affected Grails databinding Versions

4 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.3.154.1.15.1.95.2.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.grails:grails-databinding
maven/org.grails/grails-databinding
Maven
≥ 3.3.10
< 3.3.15
3.3.15
org.grails:grails-databinding
maven/org.grails/grails-databinding
Maven
≥ 4.0.0
< 4.1.1
4.1.1
org.grails:grails-databinding
maven/org.grails/grails-databinding
Maven
≥ 5.0.0
< 5.1.9
5.1.9
org.grails:grails-databinding
maven/org.grails/grails-databinding
Maven
≥ 5.2.0
< 5.2.1
All 1 versions
5.2.0
5.2.1

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/grails/grails-core/security/advisories/GHSA-6rh6-x8ww-9h97
NVD — CVE-2022-35912 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-35912
Grails databinding Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/grails/grails-core/issues/12626
Grails databinding Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/grails/grails-core
grails.org/blog/2022-07-18-rce... WEB
https://grails.org/blog/2022-07-18-rce-vulnerability.html
Grails databinding Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/07/20/4

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2022-35912?
CVE-2022-35912 is a security vulnerability in Grails databinding involving Grails framework Remote Code Execution via Data Binding under General Security Weakness.
Which Grails databinding versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.3.15, 4.1.1, 5.1.9, 5.2.1 across affected packages: org.grails:grails-databinding.
What version fixes CVE-2022-35912?
Upgrading to 3.3.15, 4.1.1, 5.1.9, 5.2.1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is grails-databinding affected?
Yes, org.grails:grails-databinding is affected in releases prior to 3.3.15, 4.1.1, 5.1.9, 5.2.1. Upgrade your dependency to 3.3.15, 4.1.1, 5.1.9, 5.2.1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2022-35912?
CVE-2022-35912 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-2022-35912?
CVE-2022-35912 is classified under General Security Weakness.
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2022-35912?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.grails'. 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-6rh6-x8ww-9h97",
  "modified" : "2022-07-29T17:38:35Z",
  "published" : "2022-07-21T21:38:28Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2022-35912" ],
  "summary" : "Grails framework Remote Code Execution via Data Binding",
  "details" : "### Impact\nA vulnerability has been discovered in the Grails data-binding logic which allows for Remote Code Execution in a Grails application. This exploit requires the application to be running on Java 8, either deployed as a WAR to a servlet container, or an executable JAR.  \n\n### Patches\nGrails framework versions 5.2.1, 5.1.9, 4.1.1, and 3.3.15\n\n### References\nhttps://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-35912\nhttps://grails.org/blog/2022-07-18-rce-vulnerability.html\n\n### For more information\nIf you have any questions or comments about this advisory:\n* https://grails.org/blog/2022-07-18-rce-vulnerability.html\n*  https://github.com/grails/grails-core/issues/12626\n* Email us at [info@grails.org](mailto:info@grails.org)\n\n### Credit\n\nThis vulnerability was discovered by  [meizjm3i](https://github.com/meizjm3i) and [codeplutos](https://github.com/codeplutos) of AntGroup FG Security Lab\n",
  "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.grails:grails-databinding"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.3.10"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.3.15"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.grails:grails-databinding"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "4.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.1.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.grails:grails-databinding"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "5.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "5.1.9"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.grails:grails-databinding"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "5.2.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "5.2.1"
      } ]
    } ],
    "versions" : [ "5.2.0" ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/grails/grails-core/security/advisories/GHSA-6rh6-x8ww-9h97"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-35912"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/grails/grails-core/issues/12626"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/grails/grails-core"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://grails.org/blog/2022-07-18-rce-vulnerability.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/07/20/4"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-07-21T21:38:28Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2022-07-19T16:15:00Z"
  }
}