CVE-2020-36183

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2020-36183?

CVE-2020-36183 has a CVSS score of 8.1 (HIGH). This vulnerability in FasterXML jackson-databind allows remote code execution through deserialization of untrusted data. Attackers can exploit the interaction between serialization gadgets and typing features to execute arbitrary code. Systems using jackson-databind 2.x with default polymorphic typing enabled are affected.

8.1 HIGH

Remote Code Execution Deserialization

📋 TL;DR

This vulnerability in FasterXML jackson-databind allows remote code execution through deserialization of untrusted data. Attackers can exploit the interaction between serialization gadgets and typing features to execute arbitrary code. Systems using jackson-databind 2.x with default polymorphic typing enabled are affected.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

FasterXML jackson-databind
Applications using jackson-databind for JSON processing

Versions: 2.x before 2.9.10.8

Operating Systems: All operating systems running Java applications

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Vulnerability requires polymorphic typing to be enabled (defaultObjectMapper.enableDefaultTyping() or similar). Applications that deserialize untrusted JSON are at highest risk.

📦 What is this software?

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Remote code execution leading to complete system compromise, data theft, and lateral movement within the network.

🟠

Likely Case

Remote code execution with the privileges of the application process, potentially allowing data access and further exploitation.

🟢

If Mitigated

Denial of service or limited information disclosure if proper input validation and sandboxing are in place.

🌐 Internet-Facing: HIGH - Exploitable remotely without authentication if vulnerable endpoint exists.

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Requires access to internal services but can lead to lateral movement once exploited.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ⚠️ Yes

Weaponized: LIKELY

Unauthenticated Exploit: ⚠️ Yes

Complexity: MEDIUM

Exploitation requires specific conditions but has been demonstrated in proof-of-concept code. The vulnerability leverages known gadget chains.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: 2.9.10.8 or later (2.10.x and 2.11.x also have fixes)

Vendor Advisory: https://github.com/FasterXML/jackson-databind/issues/3003

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Update jackson-databind dependency to version 2.9.10.8 or later. 2. Update pom.xml or build.gradle with new version. 3. Rebuild and redeploy application. 4. Restart affected services.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable polymorphic typing

all

Disable default typing features that enable polymorphic deserialization

// In Java code: objectMapper.disableDefaultTyping();
// Or configure to use safer typing modes

Block dangerous classes

all

Use Jackson's class blacklisting feature to block vulnerable classes

objectMapper.addMixIn(Object.class, MyMixInForIgnoreType.class);
// Configure in application properties or programmatically

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Implement strict input validation and sanitization for all JSON inputs
Use network segmentation to isolate vulnerable systems and limit attack surface

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check pom.xml, build.gradle, or dependency manifest for jackson-databind version. Use: mvn dependency:tree | grep jackson-databind or gradle dependencies | grep jackson-databind

Check Version:

mvn dependency:tree | grep jackson-databind || gradle dependencies | grep jackson-databind || java -cp "*" com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.ObjectMapper --version

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify version is 2.9.10.8 or higher. Check that application still functions correctly with JSON processing.

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Unexpected ClassNotFoundException or NoClassDefFoundError for JNDIConnectionPool or related classes
Unusual outbound network connections to LDAP/JNDI servers
Stack traces containing org.docx4j.org.apache.xalan.lib.sql.JNDIConnectionPool

Network Indicators:

Outbound LDAP connections from application servers to untrusted sources
Unusual JNDI lookup patterns in network traffic

SIEM Query:

source="application.logs" AND ("JNDIConnectionPool" OR "ClassNotFoundException" OR "NoClassDefFoundError")

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2020-36183

CVSS v3 Score: 8.1 (HIGH)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CWE: CWE-502

Published: January 7, 2021

Last Updated: November 21, 2024

🔗 References

https://cowtowncoder.medium.com/on-jackson-cves-dont-panic-here-is-what-you-need-to-know-54cd0d6e8062 Exploit,Technical Description,Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/FasterXML/jackson-databind/issues/3003 Issue Tracking,Patch,Third Party Advisory
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/04/msg00025.html Mailing List,Third Party Advisory
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210205-0005/ Third Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html Patch,Third Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuApr2021.html Third Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html Patch,Third Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html Patch,Third Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html Third Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html Patch,Third Party Advisory
https://cowtowncoder.medium.com/on-jackson-cves-dont-panic-here-is-what-you-need-to-know-54cd0d6e8062 Exploit,Technical Description,Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/FasterXML/jackson-databind/issues/3003 Issue Tracking,Patch,Third Party Advisory
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/04/msg00025.html Mailing List,Third Party Advisory
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210205-0005/ Third Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html Patch,Third Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuApr2021.html Third Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html Patch,Third Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html Patch,Third Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html Third Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html Patch,Third Party Advisory

📋 TL;DR

💻 Affected Systems

📦 What is this software?

Agile Plm by Oracle

Application Testing Suite by Oracle

Autovue For Agile Product Lifecycle Management by Oracle

Banking Corporate Lending Process Management by Oracle

Banking Corporate Lending Process Management by Oracle

Banking Corporate Lending Process Management by Oracle

Banking Credit Facilities Process Management by Oracle

Banking Credit Facilities Process Management by Oracle

Banking Credit Facilities Process Management by Oracle

Banking Extensibility Workbench by Oracle

Banking Extensibility Workbench by Oracle

Banking Extensibility Workbench by Oracle

Banking Supply Chain Finance by Oracle

Banking Supply Chain Finance by Oracle

Banking Supply Chain Finance by Oracle

Banking Treasury Management by Oracle

Banking Virtual Account Management by Oracle

Banking Virtual Account Management by Oracle

Banking Virtual Account Management by Oracle

Blockchain Platform by Oracle

Cloud Backup by Netapp

Commerce Platform by Oracle

Commerce Platform by Oracle

Communications Billing And Revenue Management by Oracle

Communications Billing And Revenue Management by Oracle

Communications Cloud Native Core Policy by Oracle

Communications Cloud Native Core Unified Data Repository by Oracle

Communications Convergent Charging Controller by Oracle

Communications Diameter Signaling Route by Oracle

Communications Element Manager by Oracle

Communications Evolved Communications Application Server by Oracle

Communications Instant Messaging Server by Oracle

Communications Network Charging And Control by Oracle

Communications Offline Mediation Controller by Oracle

Communications Policy Management by Oracle

Communications Pricing Design Center by Oracle

Communications Services Gatekeeper by Oracle

Communications Session Report Manager by Oracle

Communications Session Route Manager by Oracle

Communications Unified Inventory Management by Oracle

Data Integrator by Oracle

Debian Linux by Debian

Documaker by Oracle

Documaker by Oracle

Documaker by Oracle

Goldengate Application Adapters by Oracle

Insurance Policy Administration by Oracle

Insurance Policy Administration by Oracle

Insurance Rules Palette by Oracle

Insurance Rules Palette by Oracle

Jackson Databind by Fasterxml

Jackson Databind by Fasterxml

Jd Edwards Enterpriseone Orchestrator by Oracle

Jd Edwards Enterpriseone Tools by Oracle

Primavera Gateway by Oracle

Primavera Gateway by Oracle

Primavera Gateway by Oracle

Primavera Gateway by Oracle

Primavera Unifier by Oracle

Primavera Unifier by Oracle

Primavera Unifier by Oracle

Primavera Unifier by Oracle

Primavera Unifier by Oracle

Retail Customer Management And Segmentation Foundation by Oracle

Retail Merchandising System by Oracle

Retail Service Backbone by Oracle

Retail Service Backbone by Oracle

Retail Service Backbone by Oracle

Retail Xstore Point Of Service by Oracle

Retail Xstore Point Of Service by Oracle

Retail Xstore Point Of Service by Oracle

Retail Xstore Point Of Service by Oracle

Service Level Manager by Netapp

Webcenter Portal by Oracle

Webcenter Portal by Oracle

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

Worst Case