Apache MINA up to 2.0.26/2.1.9/2.2.3 ObjectSerializationDecoder deserialization

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Apache MINA up to 2.0.26/2.1.9/2.2.3. It has been rated as critical. This affects an unknown function of the component ObjectSerializationDecoder. Performing a manipulation results in deserialization. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2024-52046. Remote exploitation of the attack is possible. No exploit is available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Apache MINA up to 2.0.26/2.1.9/2.2.3. It has been classified as critical. This affects an unknown function of the component ObjectSerializationDecoder. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a deserialization vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-502. The product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently verifying that the resulting data will be valid. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

The ObjectSerializationDecoder in Apache MINA uses Java’s native deserialization protocol to process incoming serialized data but lacks the necessary security checks and defenses. This vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the deserialization process by sending specially crafted malicious serialized data, potentially leading to remote code execution (RCE) attacks. This issue affects MINA core versions 2.0.X, 2.1.X and 2.2.X, and will be fixed by the releases 2.0.27, 2.1.10 and 2.2.4. It's also important to note that an application using MINA core library will only be affected if the IoBuffer#getObject() method is called, and this specific method is potentially called when adding a ProtocolCodecFilter instance using the ObjectSerializationCodecFactory class in the filter chain. If your application is specifically using those classes, you have to upgrade to the latest version of MINA core library. Upgrading will  not be enough: you also need to explicitly allow the classes the decoder will accept in the ObjectSerializationDecoder instance, using one of the three new methods: /**      * Accept class names where the supplied ClassNameMatcher matches for * deserialization, unless they are otherwise rejected. * * @param classNameMatcher the matcher to use */ public void accept(ClassNameMatcher classNameMatcher) /** * Accept class names that match the supplied pattern for * deserialization, unless they are otherwise rejected. * * @param pattern standard Java regexp */ public void accept(Pattern pattern) /** * Accept the wildcard specified classes for deserialization, * unless they are otherwise rejected. * * @param patterns Wildcard file name patterns as defined by * {@link org.apache.commons.io.FilenameUtils#wildcardMatch(String, String) FilenameUtils.wildcardMatch} */ public void accept(String... patterns) By default, the decoder will reject *all* classes that will be present in the incoming data. Note: The FtpServer, SSHd and Vysper sub-project are not affected by this issue.

It is possible to read the advisory at lists.apache.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2024-52046 since 11/05/2024. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not publicly available. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 04/17/2025).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 234503 (Oracle Business Process Management Suite (April 2025 CPU)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 2.0.27, 2.1.10 or 2.2.4 eliminates this vulnerability. The advisory contains the following remark:

Upgrading will not be enough: you also need to explicitly allow the classes the decoder will accept in the ObjectSerializationDecoder instance, using one of the three new methods.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (234503). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Vendor

• Apache

Name

• MINA

Version

• 2.0.0
• 2.0.1
• 2.0.2
• 2.0.3
• 2.0.4
• 2.0.5
• 2.0.6
• 2.0.7
• 2.0.8
• 2.0.9
• 2.0.10
• 2.0.11
• 2.0.12
• 2.0.13
• 2.0.14
• 2.0.15
• 2.0.16
• 2.0.17
• 2.0.18
• 2.0.19
• 2.0.20
• 2.0.21
• 2.0.22
• 2.0.23
• 2.0.24
• 2.0.25
• 2.0.26
• 2.1.0
• 2.1.1
• 2.1.2
• 2.1.3
• 2.1.4
• 2.1.5
• 2.1.6
• 2.1.7
• 2.1.8
• 2.1.9
• 2.2.0
• 2.2.1
• 2.2.2
• 2.2.3

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.apache.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CPE 2.2info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Discussion