CVE-2022-30973

Processing hang via unbounded header regex

Published May 31, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Regular expression denial of service in Apache Tika 1.28.2 allows local users to hang processing through a specially crafted file. StandardsText.REGEX_HEADER applies nested, effectively unbounded repetitions to attacker-controlled document text, causing catastrophic backtracking. The flaw is reachable only when the non-standard StandardsExtractingContentHandler processes the file, interrupting the affected parsing service.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability1.99%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Regular expression denial of service in Apache Tika 1.28.2 allows local users to hang processing through a specially crafted file. StandardsText.REGEX_HEADER applies nested, effectively unbounded repetitions to attacker-controlled document text, causing catastrophic backtracking. The flaw is reachable only when the non-standard StandardsExtractingContentHandler processes the file, interrupting the affected parsing service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-30973
Published
May 31, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
The Apache Software Foundation
Product
Apache Tika
Classifications
CWE-1333, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 31, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 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=Apache Tika <=1.28.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Apache Software Foundation · Apache Tikaversion=Apache Tika <=1.28.2

Published CVSS scores

5.5GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

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No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-1333Inefficient Regular Expression Complexity
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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