CVE-2026-54516: Jackson databind Jackson-databind's Renamed @JsonIgnore'd Setters Can Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-9fxm-vc8v-hj55
CVSS 5.3
CWE-915
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-54516 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.3) jackson-databind's renamed @jsonignore'd setters can vulnerability (CWE-915: Improperly Controlled Modification of Dynamically-Determined Object Attributes) affecting Jackson databind libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves jackson-databind's renamed @jsonignore'd setters can deserialize via private fields. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.21.4, 3.1.4.

CVE-2026-54516 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-54516
GHSA Identifier GHSA-9fxm-vc8v-hj55
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.3
CWE Classification CWE-915: Improperly Controlled Modification of Dynamically-Determined Object Attributes
Affected Product Jackson databind
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.3

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:N/I:L/A:N).

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 None (C:N)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2026-54516

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

com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind fixed: 2.21.4
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.fasterxml.jackson.core</groupId>
    <artifactId>jackson-databind</artifactId>
    <version>2.21.4</version>
</dependency>
com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind fixed: 3.1.4
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.fasterxml.jackson.core</groupId>
    <artifactId>jackson-databind</artifactId>
    <version>3.1.4</version>
</dependency>
tools.jackson.core:jackson-databind fixed: 3.1.4
<dependency>
    <groupId>tools.jackson.core</groupId>
    <artifactId>jackson-databind</artifactId>
    <version>3.1.4</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=com.fasterxml.jackson.core

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2026-54516, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.fasterxml.jackson.core

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Jackson databind in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.21.4), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.fasterxml.jackson.core 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-915: Improperly Controlled Modification of Dynamically-Determined Object Attributes, where the product receives input from an upstream component that specifies multiple attributes, properties, or fields that are to be initialized or updated in an object, but it does not properly control which attributes can be modified. In Jackson databind, 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

## Summary `POJOPropertiesCollector._renameProperties()` allows a property with `@JsonProperty("renamed")` on the getter and `@JsonIgnore` on the setter to be renamed rather than dropped. With `MapperFeature.INFER_PROPERTY_MUTATORS` enabled (default), the private backing field is retained; during deserialization `BeanDeserializerFactory.addBeanProps()` sees `hasField()==true`, builds a `FieldProperty`, and makes the backing field writable. An attacker supplying the renamed JSON key writes the backing field directly, bypassing the `@JsonIgnore` on the setter. ## Impact POJOs combining a renamed getter with an ignored setter (a read-only-over-the-wire pattern) have that field silently set from attacker input (property tampering / mass assignment). Not a general gadget; no RCE. ## Affected / Patched (verified via `git tag --contains`) - 2.21 line: `>= 2.21.0, < 2.21.4` -> fixed in **2.21.4** (backport `c3d56dd`, #5968) - 3.x line: `>= 3.0.0, < 3.1.4` -> fixed in **3.1.4** (#5967, `e88cb17`) ## Severity / CWE Maintainer: minor. Reporter: HIGH. CWE-915. ## Credits Omkhar Arasaratnam (@omkhar) - finder.

CVE-2026-54516 Affected Jackson databind Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.21.43.1.4
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind
Maven
≥ 2.21.0
< 2.21.4
2.21.4
com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind
Maven
≥ 3.0.0
< 3.1.4
3.1.4
tools.jackson.core:jackson-databind
Maven
≥ 3.0.0
< 3.1.4
3.1.4

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-54516?
CVE-2026-54516 is a security vulnerability in Jackson databind involving jackson-databind's renamed @JsonIgnore'd setters can deserialize via private fields under CWE-915: Improperly Controlled Modification of Dynamically-Determined Object Attributes.
Which Jackson databind versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.21.4, 3.1.4 across affected packages: com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind, tools.jackson.core:jackson-databind.
What version fixes CVE-2026-54516?
Upgrading to 2.21.4, 3.1.4 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is jackson-databind affected?
Yes, com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind is affected in releases prior to 2.21.4, 3.1.4. Upgrade your dependency to 2.21.4, 3.1.4 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-54516?
CVE-2026-54516 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.3 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-54516?
CVE-2026-54516 is classified under CWE-915: Improperly Controlled Modification of Dynamically-Determined Object Attributes (The product receives input from an upstream component that specifies multiple attributes, properties, or fields that are to be initialized or updated in an object, but it does not properly control which attributes can be modified.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2026-54516?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.fasterxml.jackson.core'. 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
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-9fxm-vc8v-hj55",
  "modified" : "2026-07-20T21:21:24Z",
  "published" : "2026-06-23T21:24:26Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-54516" ],
  "summary" : "jackson-databind's renamed @JsonIgnore'd setters can deserialize via private fields",
  "details" : "## Summary\n`POJOPropertiesCollector._renameProperties()` allows a property with `@JsonProperty(\"renamed\")` on the getter and `@JsonIgnore` on the setter to be renamed rather than dropped. With `MapperFeature.INFER_PROPERTY_MUTATORS` enabled (default), the private backing field is retained; during deserialization `BeanDeserializerFactory.addBeanProps()` sees `hasField()==true`, builds a `FieldProperty`, and makes the backing field writable. An attacker supplying the renamed JSON key writes the backing field directly, bypassing the `@JsonIgnore` on the setter.\n\n## Impact\nPOJOs combining a renamed getter with an ignored setter (a read-only-over-the-wire pattern) have that field silently set from attacker input (property tampering / mass assignment). Not a general gadget; no RCE.\n\n## Affected / Patched (verified via `git tag --contains`)\n- 2.21 line: `>= 2.21.0, < 2.21.4` -> fixed in **2.21.4** (backport `c3d56dd`, #5968)\n- 3.x line: `>= 3.0.0, < 3.1.4` -> fixed in **3.1.4** (#5967, `e88cb17`)\n\n## Severity / CWE\nMaintainer: minor. Reporter: HIGH. CWE-915.\n\n## Credits\nOmkhar Arasaratnam (@omkhar) - finder.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
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        "introduced" : "3.0.0"
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  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "tools.jackson.core:jackson-databind"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
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      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.1.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/FasterXML/jackson-databind/security/advisories/GHSA-9fxm-vc8v-hj55"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-54516"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/FasterXML/jackson-databind/pull/5967"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/FasterXML/jackson-databind/pull/5968"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/FasterXML/jackson-databind/commit/c3d56dd25d52319828147c5b9aeabf2d485c250a"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/FasterXML/jackson-databind/commit/e88cb17006b6af4883b973058f0bb6486e5074af"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/FasterXML/jackson-databind"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-915" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-06-23T21:24:26Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-06-23T21:17:02Z"
  }
}