Improper Access Control in Apache Commons BeanUtils: Vulnerability Overview
Summary
DEBIAN-CVE-2025-48734: Improper Access Control vulnerability in Apache Commons. Affects commons-beanutils versions < 1.9.4-1+deb11u1. Fixed in 1.9.4-1+deb11u1. How to fix ↓
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Background
Apache Commons BeanUtils is a Java library that provides easy-to-use utilities for manipulating JavaBeans properties. It allows developers to easily access and modify properties of Java objects using reflection. The library is widely used in Java applications for its simplicity and effectiveness in handling JavaBeans. However, it has been found to have a vulnerability related to improper access control, which can lead to security risks if not addressed.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability arises from a special BeanIntrospector class introduced in version 1.9.2, which was intended to prevent attackers from accessing the classloader through declared class properties of Java enum objects. Unfortunately, this protection was not enabled by default. If an application using Commons BeanUtils passes property paths from external sources directly to the getProperty() method of PropertyUtilsBean, an attacker can exploit this to access the enum's class loader via the 'declaredClass' property. This access can allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code, posing a significant security threat. The issue affects versions 1.x before 1.11.0 and 2.x before 2.0.0-M2.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
1.9.4-1+deb11u1
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade commons-beanutilsTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, users can disable the use of the 'declaredClass' property in their applications. However, this is not recommended as a long-term solution. It is advisable to implement the patch as soon as possible to ensure security.
Conclusion
The improper access control vulnerability in Apache Commons BeanUtils poses a significant risk to applications that utilize this library. It is crucial for users to upgrade to the patched versions to mitigate the risk of unauthorized access and potential code execution. Regular monitoring and timely updates are essential for maintaining application security.
See every vulnerability recorded for commons-beanutils →
FAQ
The vulnerability is an improper access control issue that allows attackers to access the classloader of Java enum objects.
Versions 1.x before 1.11.0 and 2.x before 2.0.0-M2 are affected by this vulnerability.
You can use Vulert, which monitors open-source vulnerabilities in your software. You can check your application against this vulnerability using the Vulert playground without any signup.
If immediate upgrading is not possible, consider disabling the use of the 'declaredClass' property as a temporary workaround, but plan to implement the patch as soon as possible.
More information can be found in the official vulnerability report and on the Apache Commons BeanUtils documentation.
References
Related vulnerabilities
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