CVE-2022-42889Known exploitationPublic exploitNetwork attack vector

Remote code execution via default script interpolation

Published Oct 13, 2022 · Updated Nov 20, 2024

Code injection in Apache Commons Text 1.5 through 1.9 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through unsafe interpolation. StringSubstitutor.createInterpolator() enables ScriptStringLookup by default, and replace() or replaceIn() evaluates attacker-controlled expressions with the JVM scripting engine. Exploitation requires an application to pass unsanitized untrusted input to those methods; DNS and URL lookups can instead trigger outbound requests.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability99.93%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code injection in Apache Commons Text 1.5 through 1.9 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through unsafe interpolation. StringSubstitutor.createInterpolator() enables ScriptStringLookup by default, and replace() or replaceIn() evaluates attacker-controlled expressions with the JVM scripting engine. Exploitation requires an application to pass unsanitized untrusted input to those methods; DNS and URL lookups can instead trigger outbound requests.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-42889
Published
Oct 13, 2022
Updated
Nov 20, 2024
Vendor
The Apache Software Foundation
Product
Apache Commons Text
Classifications
CWE-94, T1059.007
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 13, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 17, 2022Exploitation reportedWordfence Text4Shell exploit-attempt telemetry
  3. Nov 20, 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=1.5 <Apache Commons Text*
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=1.9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Apache Software Foundation · Apache Commons Textversion=1.5 <Apache Commons Text*; version=unspecified <=1.9

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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.

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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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-94Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
T1059.007Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript/JScript

Public exploit references

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Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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