Unauthenticated code execution via unrestricted SpEL evaluation
Published Sep 24, 2022 · Updated Apr 22, 2025
SpEL injection in Nepxion Discovery 6.16.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through a crafted expression. The DiscoveryExpressionResolver.eval method parses attacker-controlled input with StandardEvaluationContext, which permits Java type access instead of restricting the expression to safe operations. The unauthenticated /strategy/validate-expression endpoint exposes this evaluator, so a submitted expression can invoke Runtime.exec with the service process's privileges.
Summary
What happened
SpEL injection in Nepxion Discovery 6.16.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through a crafted expression. The DiscoveryExpressionResolver.eval method parses attacker-controlled input with StandardEvaluationContext, which permits Java type access instead of restricting the expression to safe operations. The unauthenticated /strategy/validate-expression endpoint exposes this evaluator, so a submitted expression can invoke Runtime.exec with the service process's privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-23463
- Published
- Sep 24, 2022
- Updated
- Apr 22, 2025
- Vendor
- Nepxion
- Product
- Nepxion Discovery
- Classifications
- CWE-917, T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 24, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 22, 2025Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=6.16.2 <=6.16.2
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- GitHub Security Lab HTTP SpEL injection proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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