CVE-2022-42920
CVE-2022-42920 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Apache Commons Bcel with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-787.
Key facts
- Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.8)
- EPSS exploit prediction: 3% (85th percentile)
- Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
- Weakness: CWE-787
- Affected product: Apache Commons Bcel
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
Apache Commons BCEL has a number of APIs that would normally only allow changing specific class characteristics. However, due to an out-of-bounds writing issue, these APIs can be used to produce arbitrary bytecode. This could be abused in applications that pass attacker-controllable data to those APIs, giving the attacker more control over the resulting bytecode than otherwise expected. Update to Apache Commons BCEL 6.6.0.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2022-42920?
- Apache Commons BCEL has a number of APIs that would normally only allow changing specific class characteristics. However, due to an out-of-bounds writing issue, these APIs can be used to produce arbitrary bytecode. This could be abused in applications that pass attacker-controllable data to those APIs, giving the attacker more control over the resulting bytecode than otherwise expected. Update to Apache Commons BCEL 6.6.0.
- How severe is CVE-2022-42920?
- CVE-2022-42920 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-2022-42920 being actively exploited?
- It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (85th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- What products are affected by CVE-2022-42920?
- CVE-2022-42920 primarily affects Apache Commons Bcel. In total, 4 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
- How do I fix CVE-2022-42920?
- 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-2022-42920 published?
- CVE-2022-42920 was published on 2022-11-07 and last updated on 2026-06-17.
References
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/11/07/2
- https://lists.apache.org/thread/lfxk7q8qmnh5bt9jm6nmjlv5hsxjhrz4
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/LX3HEB4TV2BVCGDTK5BCLSYOZNQTOBN4/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/QAMRHAKGIKZNHRBB4VLYTOIOIMMXCUCD/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/QMVX6COVXZVS5GPWDODIRW6Z2GE7RPAQ/
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202401-25
Affected products (4)
- cpe:2.3:a:apache:commons_bcel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:35:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:36:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:37:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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