Vulnerabilities in pkg:maven/org.apache.commons/commons-configuration2

PACKAGE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-337m-mw94-2v6g
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Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-45205 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.3) stackoverflowerror for yaml input with vulnerability (CWE-674: Uncontrolled Recursion) affecting Apache Commons Configuration libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves stackoverflowerror for yaml input with cycles. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.15.0.

5 Known Advisory Record(s)
Package Vulnerability Intelligence

pkg:maven/org.apache.commons/commons-configuration2

5 Known Advisory Record(s)

Vulnerability advisories affecting package pkg:maven/org.apache.commons/commons-configuration2. Select an advisory below to view technical details or fixes.

Advisory ID CVE / NVD Severity Summary
GHSA-337m-mw94-2v6g CVE-2026-45205 MODERATE Apache Commons Configuration: StackOverflowError for YAML input with cycles
GHSA-xjp4-hw94-mvp5 CVE-2024-29131 MODERATE Apache Commons Configuration: StackOverflowError adding property in AbstractListDelimiterHandler.flattenIterator()
GHSA-9w38-p64v-xpmv CVE-2024-29133 MODERATE Apache Commons Configuration: StackOverflowError calling ListDelimiterHandler.flatten(Object, int) with a cyclical object tree
GHSA-xj57-8qj4-c4m6 CVE-2022-33980 CRITICAL Code injection in Apache Commons Configuration
GHSA-7qx4-pp76-vrqh CVE-2020-1953 CRITICAL Remote code execution in Apache Commons Configuration

CVE-2026-45205 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-45205
GHSA Identifier GHSA-337m-mw94-2v6g
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.3
CWE Classification CWE-674: Uncontrolled Recursion
Affected Product Apache Commons Configuration
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:N/A:L).

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

How to Fix CVE-2026-45205

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Apache Commons Configuration 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.commons:commons-configuration2 fixed: 2.15.0 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.commons</groupId>
    <artifactId>commons-configuration2</artifactId>
    <version>2.15.0</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.commons

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2026-45205, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

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

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Apache Commons Configuration in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.15.0), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.commons 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-674: Uncontrolled Recursion, where the product does not properly control the amount of recursion that takes place, consuming excessive resources, such as allocated memory or the program stack. In Apache Commons Configuration, 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

Uncontrolled Recursion vulnerability in Apache Commons. When processing an untrusted configuration file, Commons Configuration will throw a StackOverflowError for YAML input with cycles. This issue affects Apache Commons: from 2.2 before 2.15.0. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 2.15.0, which fixes the issue.

CVE-2026-45205 Affected Apache Commons Configuration Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.15.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.commons:commons-configuration2
maven/org.apache.commons/commons-configuration2
Maven
≥ 2.2
< 2.15.0
2.15.0

References

NVD — CVE-2026-45205 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-45205
Apache Commons Configuration Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/commons-configuration/pull/634
Apache Commons Configuration Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/commons-configuration
lists.apache.org/thread/q3q3j10ohcqh... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread/q3q3j10ohcqhs6o0rg1v7kz6kk27vtkk
Apache Commons Configuration Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/05/14/5

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-45205?
CVE-2026-45205 is a security vulnerability in Apache Commons Configuration involving StackOverflowError for YAML input with cycles under CWE-674: Uncontrolled Recursion.
Which Apache Commons Configuration versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.15.0 across affected packages: org.apache.commons:commons-configuration2.
What version fixes CVE-2026-45205?
Upgrading to 2.15.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is commons-configuration2 affected?
Yes, org.apache.commons:commons-configuration2 is affected in releases prior to 2.15.0. Upgrade your dependency to 2.15.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-45205?
CVE-2026-45205 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:N/A:L.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-45205?
CVE-2026-45205 is classified under CWE-674: Uncontrolled Recursion (The product does not properly control the amount of recursion that takes place, consuming excessive resources, such as allocated memory or the program stack.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2026-45205?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.commons'. 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-337m-mw94-2v6g",
  "modified" : "2026-05-20T15:36:43Z",
  "published" : "2026-05-14T12:30:27Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-45205" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Commons Configuration: StackOverflowError for YAML input with cycles",
  "details" : "Uncontrolled Recursion vulnerability in Apache Commons.\n\nWhen processing an untrusted configuration file, Commons Configuration will throw a StackOverflowError for YAML input with cycles.\nThis issue affects Apache Commons: from 2.2 before 2.15.0.\n\nUsers are recommended to upgrade to version 2.15.0, which fixes the issue.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.commons:commons-configuration2"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.2"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.15.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-45205"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/commons-configuration/pull/634"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/commons-configuration"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/q3q3j10ohcqhs6o0rg1v7kz6kk27vtkk"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/05/14/5"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-674" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-05-20T15:36:43Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-05-14T12:16:35Z"
  }
}