CVE-2020-5245Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Code execution via unescaped validation-message EL

Published Feb 24, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Template injection in Dropwizard Validation 1.3.0 through 1.3.18 and 2.0.0 through 2.0.1 allows remote authenticated users to execute code. ViolationCollector.addViolation forwards attacker-influenced messages to ConstraintValidatorContext.buildConstraintViolationWithTemplate without escaping, so Hibernate Validator evaluates embedded Java EL. Exploitation requires an application to use self-validation and place request data in a violation message; successful expressions run with the Dropwizard service account privileges.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability3.01%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Template injection in Dropwizard Validation 1.3.0 through 1.3.18 and 2.0.0 through 2.0.1 allows remote authenticated users to execute code. ViolationCollector.addViolation forwards attacker-influenced messages to ConstraintValidatorContext.buildConstraintViolationWithTemplate without escaping, so Hibernate Validator evaluates embedded Java EL. Exploitation requires an application to use self-validation and place request data in a violation message; successful expressions run with the Dropwizard service account privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-5245
Published
Feb 24, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Dropwizard
Product
Dropwizard Validation
Classifications
CWE-74, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 24, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=>= 1.3.0, < 1.3.19
  2. Affected versionversion=>= 2.0.0, < 2.0.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Dropwizard · Dropwizard Validationversion=>= 1.3.0, < 1.3.19; version=>= 2.0.0, < 2.0.2

Published CVSS scores

8.8OSVCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-74Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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