CVE-2015-3253

CVE-2015-3253 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Apache Groovy with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 43% places it in the 99th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-74.

Key facts

• Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.8)
• CVSS v2: 7.5
• EPSS exploit prediction: 43% (99th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-74
• Affected product: Apache Groovy
• Published: 2015-08-13
• Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

The MethodClosure class in runtime/MethodClosure.java in Apache Groovy 1.7.0 through 2.4.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service via a crafted serialized object.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2015-3253?

The MethodClosure class in runtime/MethodClosure.java in Apache Groovy 1.7.0 through 2.4.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service via a crafted serialized object.

How severe is CVE-2015-3253?

CVE-2015-3253 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2015-3253 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 43% (99th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2015-3253?

CVE-2015-3253 primarily affects Apache Groovy. In total, 120 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2015-3253?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2015-3253 published?

CVE-2015-3253 was published on 2015-08-13 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

• http://groovy-lang.org/security.html
• http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/132714/Apache-Groovy-2.4.3-Code-Execution.html
• http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-0066.html
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2016v3-2985753.html
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujan2018-3236628.html
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2016-2881720.html
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2017-3236622.html
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2016-2881722.html
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2017-3236626.html
• http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/536012/100/0/threaded
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/75919
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91787
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1034815
• http://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-15-365/
• https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016:1376
• https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2486
• https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2596
• https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05324755
• https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rbb8e16cc5acab183124572b655bdf5fe1d5b5f477dc267352426c7ed%40%3Cnotifications.shardingsphere.apache.org%3E
• https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201610-01
• https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20160623-0001/
• https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2020.html
• https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2019-5072813.html

Affected products (120)

• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.7.0:beta_1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.7.0:beta_2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.7.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.7.0:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.7.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.7.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.7.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.7.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.8.0:beta_1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.8.0:beta_2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.8.0:beta_3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.8.0:beta_4:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.8.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.8.0:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.8.0:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.8.0:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.8.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.8.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.8.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.8.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.8.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.8.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.9.0:beta_1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.9.0:beta_3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:1.9.0:beta_4:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:2.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apache:groovy:2.0.0:beta_1:*:*:*:*:*:*

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