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Activemq Artemis CVE-2016-4978

HIGH
Deserialization of Untrusted Data (CWE-502)
2016-09-27 secalert@redhat.com
7.2
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A08:2025 - Software or Data Integrity Failures
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization Safe deserialization, type allowlists
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Execution, Initial Access

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS score of 7.2 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, high privileges required, no user interaction not required. EPSS exploitation probability: 1.36%.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could execute arbitrary code through malicious serialized objects by sending crafted requests to the affected application.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 1.4% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

The getObject method of the javax.jms.ObjectMessage class in the (1) JMS Core client, (2) Artemis broker, and (3) Artemis REST component in Apache ActiveMQ Artemis before 1.4.0 might allow remote. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.2), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. This Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code through malicious serialized objects.

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Avoid deserializing untrusted data. Use safe serialization formats (JSON). Implement integrity checks and type allowlists.

Affected Packages

maven org.apache.activemq:artemis-pom fix: 1.4.0

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in maven

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Deserialization of Untrusted Data (CWE-502), which allows attackers to execute arbitrary code through malicious serialized objects. The getObject method of the javax.jms.ObjectMessage class in the (1) JMS Core client, (2) Artemis broker, and (3) Artemis REST component in Apache ActiveMQ Artemis before 1.4.0 might allow remote authenticated users with permission to send messages to the Artemis broker to deserialize arbitrary objects and execute arbitrary code by leveraging gadget classes being present on the Artemis classpath. Affected products include: Apache Activemq Artemis, Redhat Jboss Enterprise Application Platform. Version information: before 1.4.0.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 7.2 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
High
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

DescriptionNVD

The getObject method of the javax.jms.ObjectMessage class in the (1) JMS Core client, (2) Artemis broker, and (3) Artemis REST component in Apache ActiveMQ Artemis before 1.4.0 might allow remote authenticated users with permission to send messages to the Artemis broker to deserialize arbitrary objects and execute arbitrary code by leveraging gadget classes being present on the Artemis classpath.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
1.4%
Top 20% exploitable
Data Quality
4 sources
Confidence: Medium

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 1.4%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

37
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +1
CVSS: +36
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Insecure deserialization occurs when an application converts serialized data (a stream of bytes representing an object's state) back into a living object without proper validation.

Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:apache:activemq_artemis:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:redhat:jboss_enterprise_application_platform:6.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:redhat:jboss_enterprise_application_platform:6.4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:redhat:jboss_enterprise_application_platform:7.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:redhat:jboss_enterprise_application_platform:7.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

References

Advisories & patches
ADVISORY http://mail-archives.apache.org/mod_mbox/activemq-users/201609.mbox/%3CCAH6wpnqzeNtpykT7emtDU1-GV7AvjFP5-YroWcCC4UZyQEFvtA%40mail.gmail.com%3E ADVISORY https://vuldb.com/vuln/92217 REF http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/93142 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1834 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1835 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1836 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1837 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:3454 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:3455 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:3456 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:3458 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:1447 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:1448 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:1449 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:1450 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:1451 REF https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/7260bd0955c12aac5bd892039d3356ba3aa0ff4caaf2aa4fd4fe84a2%40%3Cissues.activemq.apache.org%3E REF https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/d4ffbc6a43a915324a394b2913ceb7d07bc352f2d08caa19df0aff02%40%3Cissues.activemq.apache.org%3E REF https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rb2fd3bf2dce042e0ab3f3c94c4767c96bb2e7e6737624d63162df36d%40%3Ccommits.activemq.apache.org%3E REF https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rc96ad63f148f784c84ea7f0a178c84a8985c6afccabbcd9847a82088%40%3Ccommits.activemq.apache.org%3E REF https://www.blackhat.com/docs/us-16/materials/us-16-Kaiser-Pwning-Your-Java-Messaging-With-Deserialization-Vulnerabilities.pdf

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