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OW2 ASM EUVDEUVD-2026-101218

| CVE-2026-110270 MEDIUM
Inefficient Algorithmic Complexity (CWE-407)
2026-10-14 VulnCheck GHSA-53jq-h6qp-vprp
6.8
CVSS 4.0 · Vendor: VulnCheck
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Supply crafted class file with nested JSR/RET
  2. Delivery
    Target tool invokes JSRInlinerAdapter
  3. Exploit
    Subroutine inlining expands exponentially
  4. Execution
    Uncontrolled O(2^n) memory allocation
  5. Impact
    OutOfMemoryError crashes JVM

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V2 - Validation and Business Logic Algorithmic complexity limits
Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires that a victim process feed an attacker-supplied class file through ASM's asm-commons JSRInlinerAdapter - the component that inlines legacy JSR/RET subroutines - and that the class file contain crafted nested subroutines triggering O(2^n) expansion. Because JSR/RET bytecode is a legacy construct (pre-Java 6, class format ≤ v49), the vulnerable path is reached only by workflows that deliberately process or normalize old/arbitrary class files (e.g., bytecode transformers, obfuscators, static analyzers, coverage/instrumentation agents, or security scanners). Limiting factors: the vector is local (AV:L) and needs passive user interaction (UI:P) - the attacker cannot trigger it directly over a network and must get the malicious class loaded/processed by the target; impact is confined to availability (a JVM OutOfMemoryError crash) with no code execution, data disclosure, or integrity loss. Affected versions are ASM 3.0 up to but not including 9.11.

Impact

This is a denial-of-service issue with modest real-world priority. The provided CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H) scores 6.8 (Medium): local attack vector, no privileges, but passive user interaction required, with impact confined to availability (VA:H) - no confidentiality or integrity loss. There is no CISA KEV listing and no POC flagged in the input, so exploitation status is 'no public exploit identified at time of analysis'; however, a dedicated VulnCheck advisory and vendor patch/merge-request exist, indicating a well-documented, credible finding rather than a theoretical one. The algorithmic-complexity nature (CWE-407, O(2^n) memory blow-up) means a single small crafted class file can reliably exhaust the heap, so the technical impact is dependable even though reach is limited. Net: a legitimate fix-it issue for anyone whose software parses untrusted class files through ASM's JSRInlinerAdapter, but NOT an emergency - the local vector and availability-only impact keep it well below critical remote-code-execution class bugs. Note a nuance to verify: although PR:N marks it unauthenticated, the AV:L/UI:P combination means the attacker cannot act directly over the network - some process must be induced to feed the malicious class file to the vulnerable code path.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker crafts a malicious Java class file containing deeply nested JSR/RET subroutines and gets it processed by an application, build tool, or security scanner that runs it through ASM's JSRInlinerAdapter. The inliner expands subroutines without any memory or work bound, triggering exponential (O(2^n)) memory allocation that throws OutOfMemoryError and crashes the JVM. No public exploit is identified at the time of analysis, though VulnCheck has published a detailed advisory describing the mechanism.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Why: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9).
Patch available 0.2% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Oct 14, 2026

Denial of service in OW2 ASM versions 3.0 up to but not including 9.11 allows a crafted legacy class file with nested JSR/RET subroutines to trigger uncontrolled O(2^n) memory allocation in asm-commons JSRInlinerAdapter, crashing the JVM with OutOfMemoryError. The CVSS vector indicates no privileges required (PR:N) and user interaction, but the attack is local (AV:L) and not remotely triggerable: a victim process must process an attacker-supplied class file locally, and impact is availability-only with no code execution, data disclosure, or integrity loss. No public exploit identified at time of analysis; vendor patches are available for the affected range.

RemediationAI

Vendor-released patch: upgrade to OW2 ASM 9.11 or later, since the affected range is ASM 3.0 before 9.11; patch details are at https://gitlab.ow2.org/asm/asm/-/merge_requests/466 and https://gitlab.ow2.org/asm/asm/-/commit/f2b988af48719f85a274f2a05e37bc55c0cd22a1, with version information at https://asm.ow2.io/versions.html. If immediate upgrading is not possible, avoid processing untrusted or attacker-supplied class files with ASM, especially legacy class files that use JSR/RET (major version ≤49), because the vulnerable path is only reached when such bytecode is inlined; this may break bytecode transformers, obfuscators, analyzers, coverage/instrumentation agents, and scanners that intentionally handle old class files. Additional compensating controls include rejecting or pre-scanning class files before ASM processing, and running ASM workflows in a separate JVM/process with strict memory limits and timeouts so an OutOfMemoryError is contained to a worker rather than the primary service; trade-offs are reduced compatibility with legacy bytecode and possible worker crashes under malicious input.

Affected VersionsENISA

ASM 3.0 <9.11

Affected Packages

euvd asm fix: 9.11

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in euvd

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

Technical ContextAI · show details

OW2 ASM is a Java bytecode manipulation and analysis framework, and the vulnerable component is asm-commons JSRInlinerAdapter, which inlines legacy JSR/RET subroutines found in older class file formats (pre-Java 6, class format version ≤49). The adapter performs this inlining without memory or work limits, so crafted nested subroutines cause exponential expansion and OutOfMemoryError under CWE-407, Inefficient Algorithmic Complexity / uncontrolled resource consumption. The affected CPE is cpe:2.3:a:ow2:asm:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* for ASM 3.0 before 9.11, and the patch commit f2b988af48719f85a274f2a05e37bc55c0cd22a1 plus merge request 466 address the issue. The CVSS impact is availability-only (VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N), and because legacy JSR/RET bytecode is only reached by workflows that deliberately process old or arbitrary class files, the practical exposure is limited to bytecode transformers, obfuscators, static analyzers, coverage/instrumentation agents, and security scanners.

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Severity by source

Vendor (VulnCheck) PRIMARY 6.8 MEDIUM
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
vuln.today AI 5.5 MEDIUM

Attacker supplies a class file but cannot act remotely (AV:L) and needs the target to process it (UI:R); no privileges (PR:N); impact is an availability-only JVM crash (A:H, C/I:N).

3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
4.0 AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (VulnCheck).

CVSS VectorVendor: VulnCheck

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Requirements
None
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Passive
Vulnerable system: Confidentiality
None
Vulnerable system: Integrity
None
Vulnerable system: Availability
High
Subsequent system: Confidentiality
None
Subsequent system: Integrity
None
Subsequent system: Availability
None

DescriptionCVE.org

OW2 ASM 3.0 before 9.11 contains an uncontrolled memory allocation vulnerability in the asm-commons JSRInlinerAdapter that inlines JSR/RET subroutines without memory or work limits. Attackers can supply a crafted class file with nested subroutines to force O(2^n) memory allocation, causing an OutOfMemoryError that crashes the JVM.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.2%
Top 94% exploitable
Prevalence
High
ASM is a core bytecode library across Java build and runtime tooling
Data Quality
3 sources
Confidence: Low

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 MEDIUM
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.2%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9)
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
Small
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact· derived
High

Priority Score

34
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +34
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Denial of Service attacks render applications or systems unavailable by overwhelming resources or triggering failure conditions.

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