CVE-2016-6814 in Agile Engineering Data Management
Summary
by MITRE
When an application with unsupported Codehaus versions of Groovy from 1.7.0 to 2.4.3, Apache Groovy 2.4.4 to 2.4.7 on classpath uses standard Java serialization mechanisms, e.g. to communicate between servers or to store local data, it was possible for an attacker to bake a special serialized object that will execute code directly when deserialized. All applications which rely on serialization and do not isolate the code which deserializes objects were subject to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical deserialization flaw that affected applications using older versions of the Groovy scripting language from Codehaus. The issue stems from the improper handling of serialized objects during the deserialization process, creating a pathway for remote code execution attacks. When applications employing Groovy versions between 1.7.0 and 2.4.3 or Apache Groovy versions 2.4.4 through 2.4.7 utilize standard Java serialization mechanisms for inter-server communication or local data storage, they become susceptible to malicious payload injection. The vulnerability operates through the exploitation of the Java deserialization process, where attackers can craft specially crafted serialized objects that contain malicious code execution instructions.
The technical flaw resides in the lack of proper validation and sanitization during object deserialization, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute arbitrary code upon deserialization. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-502, which specifically addresses "Deserialization of Untrusted Data," and represents a classic example of insecure deserialization patterns that have been extensively documented in cybersecurity literature. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it leverages existing serialization mechanisms within applications, making it difficult to detect and prevent without proper security controls. When an application deserializes objects without proper input validation or object type checking, it opens the door for attackers to execute malicious code directly within the application's execution context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, affecting any application that relies on Java serialization for data exchange or storage operations. Applications that deserialize untrusted data without proper security measures become completely compromised, as attackers can execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the running application. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where applications may be processing data from untrusted sources or where legacy systems continue to use vulnerable Groovy versions. The attack can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous for web applications and services that expose serialization endpoints to external clients. The vulnerability essentially allows for privilege escalation and complete system compromise when exploited properly.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Groovy versions to the latest secure releases, as well as implementing proper deserialization security controls. Organizations should implement object type validation during deserialization processes, utilize secure deserialization libraries, and avoid deserializing untrusted data whenever possible. The implementation of sandboxing mechanisms and proper input validation can significantly reduce the attack surface. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring of deserialization activities can help detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software dependencies and implementing proper security controls around serialization mechanisms, as outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks including the ATT&CK framework's techniques related to deserialization attacks and privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing application-level firewalls and runtime protection mechanisms to prevent exploitation of such vulnerabilities.