Is CVE-2022-42889 actively exploited?

Yes. KEV Intelligence tracks CVE-2022-42889 as a known exploited vulnerability. Confidence is high.

What exploitation activity has KEV Intelligence observed?

KEV Intelligence has not yet recorded sensor-observed exploitation attempts for CVE-2022-42889. Our sensors continue to monitor for activity targeting this CVE.

Which versions are affected?

CVE-2022-42889 affects Apache Software Foundation Apache Commons Text. Reported affected versions include unspecified to <= 1.9 and 1.5 to < Apache Commons Text*.

No. CVE-2022-42889 is not currently listed in CISA KEV.

Vulnerability report

High confidence Not in CISA KEV

CVE-2022-42889

Q: How should organizations remediate it?

Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.

Q: Is it in CISA KEV?

No. CVE-2022-42889 is not currently listed in CISA KEV.

Apache Commons Text Remote Code Execution

Apache Software Foundation / Apache Commons Text · unspecified to <= 1.9

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Severity: CVSS 9.8 · Critical
Confidence: High
Exploit status: PoC available
EPSS: 99.9%
First observed: —
Last observed: —

Decision summary

What security teams need to know first

Direct answers before the deeper technical record.

What it is

CVE-2022-42889 is an unauthenticated vulnerability affecting Apache Software Foundation Apache Commons Text. Apache Commons Text performs variable interpolation, allowing properties to be dynamically evaluated and...

Is it exploited?

Yes. KEV Intelligence tracks this CVE as a known exploited vulnerability. Confidence is high.

Who is affected?

Apache Software Foundation / Apache Commons Text unspecified to <= 1.9.

What should we do?

Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.

Overview

Apache Commons Text performs variable interpolation, allowing properties to be dynamically evaluated and expanded

Apache Commons Text performs variable interpolation, allowing properties to be dynamically evaluated and expanded. The standard format for interpolation is "${prefix:name}", where "prefix" is used to locate an instance of org.apache.commons.text.lookup.StringLookup that performs the interpolation. Starting with version 1.5 and continuing through 1.9, the set of default Lookup instances included interpolators that could result in arbitrary code execution or contact with remote servers.

These lookups are: - "script" - execute expressions using the JVM script execution engine (javax.script) - "dns" - resolve dns records - "url" - load values from urls, including from remote servers Applications using the interpolation defaults in the affected versions may be vulnerable to remote code execution or unintentional contact with remote servers if untrusted configuration values are used. Users are recommended to upgrade to Apache Commons Text 1.10.0, which disables the problematic interpolators by default.

Vendor Product Affected Status

Apache Software Foundation Apache Commons Text Through 1.9 Affected

Apache Software Foundation Apache Commons Text Before Apache Commons Text* Affected

View vendor advisory

Published: 13 Oct 2022
Exploitation Reported: 20 Oct 2022
Attack vector: Remote
Complexity: Low
Privileges: None
User interaction: None

CVE References

GLSA-202301-05 security.gentoo.org · Vendor Advisory https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202301-05
[oss-security] 20221013 CVE-2022-42889: Apache Commons Text prior to 1.10.0 allows RCE when applied to untrusted input due to insecure interpolation defaults openwall.com · Mailing List http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/10/13/4
[oss-security] 20221017 Re: CVE-2022-42889: Apache Commons Text prior to 1.10.0 allows RCE when applied to untrusted input due to insecure interpolation defaults openwall.com · Mailing List http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/10/18/1
20230214 OXAS-ADV-2022-0002: OX App Suite Security Advisory seclists.org · Mailing List http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2023/Feb/3
Apache Mailing List lists.apache.org · CVE Record https://lists.apache.org/thread/n2bd4vdsgkqh2tm14l1wyc3jyol7s1om
security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20221020-0004 security.netapp.com · CVE Record https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20221020-0004/
psirt.global.sonicwall.com/vuln-detail/SNWLID-2022-0022 psirt.global.sonicwall.com · CVE Record https://psirt.global.sonicwall.com/vuln-detail/SNWLID-2022-0022
packetstormsecurity.com/files/171003/OX-App-Suite-Cross-Site-Scripti... packetstormsecurity.com · CVE Record http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/171003/OX-App-Suite-Cross-Site-S...
packetstormsecurity.com/files/176650/Apache-Commons-Text-1.9-Remote-... packetstormsecurity.com · CVE Record http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/176650/Apache-Commons-Text-1.9-R...

Exploitation evidence

Why KEV Intelligence marks this CVE as exploited

Third-party attestation and first-party sensor observation are shown separately so teams can judge the evidence chain.

Proof of concept available

GitHub

Recorded 17 Oct 2022

Public scanner or PoC coverage increases practical exploitability.

Known exploited vulnerability sources

Per-source evidence links for KEV attestations are available through the KEV Intelligence Pro API.

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Source	Added
Wordfence First	2022-10-20 11:40 UTC

Detection

Operational artifacts and observed signals

Make the evidence actionable in scanner, SOC, and edge-control workflows.

Observed signals

Request targets: 0
User-Agents: 0

Raw values available in Pro and Enterprise.

Scanner coverage

Metasploit template detected 28 Apr 2025.

View Metasploit template

Virtual patch status

No KEV Intelligence virtual patch is currently available. Future rules ship for ModSecurity, Cloudflare, and AWS WAF.

Learn about virtual patches →

Scanner Artifacts

Scanner and exploit-framework references linked to this CVE.

Scanner	Reference	Detected
Metasploit	https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/multi/http/apache_commons_text4shell.rb	28 Apr 2025

Risk and context

Severity, weaknesses, and research context

CVSS v3.1

9.8 Critical

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

EPSS

99.9%

Weaknesses

Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') CWE-94

Potential Proof of Concepts

These PoCs are unverified and could contain malware. Use at your own risk.

808ale/CVE-2022-42889-Text4Shell-POC

github · Created 2023-06-27 08:29:24 UTC · 14 stars

This repository contains a Python script to automate the process of testing for a vulnerability known as Text4Shell, referenced under the CVE id: CVE-2022-42889.

sunnyvale-it/CVE-2022-42889-PoC

github · Created 2022-11-05 07:32:51 UTC · 2 stars

CVE-2022-42889 (a.k.a. Text4Shell) RCE Proof of Concept

cryxnet/CVE-2022-42889-RCE

github · Created 2022-11-04 19:26:23 UTC · 18 stars

Proof of Concept for CVE-2022-42889 (Text4Shell Vulnerability)

Vulnmachines/text4shell-CVE-2022-42889

github · Created 2022-10-25 13:11:24 UTC · 2 stars

cxzero/CVE-2022-42889-text4shell

github · Created 2022-10-23 13:42:23 UTC · 21 stars

CVE-2022-42889 aka Text4Shell research & PoC

0xmaximus/Apache-Commons-Text-CVE-2022-42889

github · Created 2022-10-23 08:33:02 UTC · 2 stars

Apache Text4Shell (CVE-2022-42889) Burp Bounty Profile

akshayithape-devops/CVE-2022-42889-POC

github · Created 2022-10-23 05:48:48 UTC · 6 stars

A simple dockerize application that shows how to exploit the CVE-2022-42889 vulnerability.

s3l33/CVE-2022-42889

github · Created 2022-10-22 02:06:40 UTC · 3 stars

python script for CVE-2022-42889

humbss/CVE-2022-42889

github · Created 2022-10-21 13:48:04 UTC · 2 stars

kljunowsky/CVE-2022-42889-text4shell

github · Created 2022-10-19 11:49:08 UTC · 55 stars

Apache commons text - CVE-2022-42889 Text4Shell proof of concept exploit.

korteke/CVE-2022-42889-POC

github · Created 2022-10-18 23:15:40 UTC · 13 stars

A simple application that shows how to exploit the CVE-2022-42889 vulnerability

SeanWrightSec/CVE-2022-42889-PoC

github · Created 2022-10-17 18:50:36 UTC · 34 stars

Proof of Concept for the Apache commons-text vulnerability CVE-2022-42889.

apache_commons_text4shell

metasploit · Created Unknown

Metasploit module for CVE-2022-42889

Timeline

From disclosure to observed exploitation

28 Apr 2025
Metasploit module available

Exploit module available
20 Oct 2022
Added to KEV Intelligence KEV Feed

High-confidence, third-party attested exploitation
17 Oct 2022
Public PoC available

Public proof-of-concept code published
13 Oct 2022
CVE published

Vulnerability disclosed publicly
12 Oct 2022
CVE ID reserved

Identifier reserved by the CNA

Pro API

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Evidence confidence and provenance
First-party sensor telemetry
PoC and scanner references
Affected versions and enrichment
Automation-ready JSON delivery

GET /api/v2/pro/kevs/CVE-2022-42889

Free JSON includes basic KEV fields

{
  "cve_id": "CVE-2022-42889",
  "confidence": "High",
  "cvss_score": 9.8,
  "epss_score": 0.99931,
  "exploit_status": {
    "exploited_in_the_wild": false,
    "active_exploitation_observed": false
  },
  "sensor_telemetry": { "attempts": 0, "sensors": 0 }
}

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