CVE-2024-36401
Confirmed PUBLISHEDRemote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability in evaluating property name expressions in Geoserver
Recommended Action
Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
At a Glance
GeoServer is an open source server that allows users to share and edit geospatial data. Prior to versions 2.22.6, 2.23.6, 2.24.4, and 2.25.2, multiple OGC request parameters allow Remote Code Execution (RCE) by unauthenticated users through specially crafted input against a default GeoServer installation due to unsafely evaluating property names as XPath expressions. The GeoTools library API that GeoServer calls evaluates property/attribute names for feature types in a way that unsafely passes them to the commons-jxpath library which can execute arbitrary code when evaluating XPath expressions. This XPath evaluation is intended to be used only by complex feature types (i.e., Application Schema data stores) but is incorrectly being applied to simple feature types as well which makes this vulnerability apply to **ALL** GeoServer instances. No public PoC is provided but this vulnerability has been confirmed to be exploitable through WFS GetFeature, WFS GetPropertyValue, WMS GetMap, WMS GetFeatureInfo, WMS GetLegendGraphic and WPS Execute requests. This vulnerability can lead to executing arbitrary code. Versions 2.22.6, 2.23.6, 2.24.4, and 2.25.2 contain a patch for the issue. A workaround exists by removing the `gt-complex-x.y.jar` file from the GeoServer where `x.y` is the GeoTools version (e.g., `gt-complex-31.1.jar` if running GeoServer 2.25.1). This will remove the vulnerable code from GeoServer but may break some GeoServer functionality or prevent GeoServer from deploying if the gt-complex module is needed.
- CVE Published
- Jul 01, 2024
- Exploitation Reported
- Jul 15, 2024
- CVSS
- 9.8 Critical
- EPSS
- 99.8%
Affected Versions
| Vendor | Product | Version | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| geoserver |
geoserver
|
0 to < 2.23.6 |
Affected |
| geoserver |
geoserver
|
2.24.0 to < 2.24.4 |
Affected |
| geoserver |
geoserver
|
2.25.0 to < 2.25.2 |
Affected |
| geoserver |
geoserver
|
>= 2.23.0, < 2.23.6 |
Affected |
| geoserver |
geoserver
|
>= 2.24.0, < 2.24.4 |
Affected |
| geoserver |
geoserver
|
>= 2.25.0, < 2.25.2 |
Affected |
| geoserver |
geoserver
|
< 2.22.6 |
Affected |
CVE References
- https://github.com/geoserver/geoserver/security/advisories/GHSA-6jj6-gm7p-fcvv github.com · CVE Record https://github.com/geoserver/geoserver/security/advisories/GHSA-6jj6-...
- https://github.com/geotools/geotools/security/advisories/GHSA-w3pj-wh35-fq8w github.com · CVE Record https://github.com/geotools/geotools/security/advisories/GHSA-w3pj-wh...
- https://github.com/geotools/geotools/pull/4797 github.com · CVE Record https://github.com/geotools/geotools/pull/4797
- https://github.com/Warxim/CVE-2022-41852?tab=readme-ov-file#workaround-for-cve-2022-41852 github.com · CVE Record https://github.com/Warxim/CVE-2022-41852?tab=readme-ov-file#workaroun...
- https://osgeo-org.atlassian.net/browse/GEOT-7587 osgeo-org.atlassian.net · CVE Record https://osgeo-org.atlassian.net/browse/GEOT-7587
Recommended Actions
- Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
- Check enrichment artifacts for scanner coverage and available PoCs before rolling remediation validation.
- Use the Pro API to automate enrichment, telemetry, and workflow delivery for VM, SOC, and CTI pipelines.
Known Exploited Vulnerability Sources
Catalogues that list this CVE as a known exploited vulnerability.
Per-source evidence links for KEV attestations are available through the KEVIntel Pro API.
Learn about Pro API access| Source | Added |
|---|---|
| CISA First | 2024-07-15 00:00 UTC |
| The Shadowserver | 2026-05-31 00:00 UTC |
Scanner Artifacts
Nuclei and Metasploit references linked to this CVE.
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclei | https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2024/CVE-2024-36401.yaml | Apr 25, 2025 |
| Metasploit | https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/multi/http/geoserver_unauth_rce_cve_2024_36401.rb | Apr 28, 2025 |
Virtual Patch
Compensating WAF rules to help reduce exposure to this CVE. Rule content and deployable vendor exports are available with KEVIntel Enterprise.
KEVIntel does not currently have a virtual patch for this CVE. When available, KEVIntel virtual patches ship as deployable ModSecurity, Cloudflare, and AWS WAF rules.
Enterprise feature. Virtual patch rule content and deployable vendor exports (ModSecurity, Cloudflare, AWS WAF) are available to KEVIntel Enterprise users.
CVSS Scores
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Exploitation Status
Exploited in the wild
Recorded 2024-07-15 00:00:00 UTC · CISA
Proof of concept available
Recorded 2024-09-28 14:55:50 UTC · GitHub
Weaknesses (CWE)
-
Improper Neutralization of Directives in Dynamically Evaluated Code ('Eval Injection')
Scanner Integrations
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Metasploit | https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/multi/http/geoserver_unauth_rce_cve_2024_36401.rb | Apr 28, 2025 |
| Nuclei | https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2024/CVE-2024-36401.yaml | Apr 25, 2025 |
| Nessus | https://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/204972 | Aug 02, 2024 |
Potential Proof of Concepts
These PoCs are unverified and could contain malware. Use at your own risk.
github · Created 2025-04-11 04:36:34 UTC · 15 stars
CVE-2024-36401 图形化利用工具，支持各个JDK版本利用以及回显、内存马实现
github · Created 2024-11-27 19:13:49 UTC · 2 stars
CVE-2024-36401 (GeoServer Remote Code Execution)
github · Created 2024-11-22 03:57:12 UTC · 11 stars
CVE-2024-36401-GeoServer Property 表达式注入 Rce woodpecker-framework 插件
github · Created 2024-10-05 10:08:55 UTC · 42 stars
geoserver图形化漏洞利用工具
github · Created 2024-09-28 14:55:50 UTC · 2 stars
GeoServer CVE-2024-36401: Remote Code Execution (RCE) Vulnerability In Evaluating Property Name Expressions
github · Created 2024-09-13 10:28:48 UTC · 3 stars
Proof-of-Concept Exploit for CVE-2024-36401 GeoServer 2.25.1
github · Created 2024-07-30 18:43:40 UTC · 78 stars
GeoServer Remote Code Execution
github · Created 2024-07-06 01:10:28 UTC · 47 stars
Remote Code Execution (RCE) Vulnerability In Evaluating Property Name Expressions with multies ways to exploit
github · Created 2024-07-05 15:24:50 UTC · 2 stars
Exploiter a Vulnerability detection and Exploitation tool for GeoServer Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution CVE-2024-36401.
github · Created 2024-07-04 13:19:47 UTC · 33 stars
POC for CVE-2024-36401. This POC will attempt to establish a reverse shell from the vlun targets.
nuclei · Created Unknown
metasploit · Created Unknown
Metasploit module for CVE-2024-36401
Timeline
Key exploitation, disclosure, scanner coverage, and KEV attestation events for this CVE.
-
00:00 UTC about 2 months ago00:00 UTC · about 2 months ago
KEV confirmed by The Shadowserver
Exploitation attested by an external source
-
15:02 UTC about 1 year ago15:02 UTC · about 1 year ago
Metasploit module available
Exploit module available
-
00:00 UTC about 1 year ago00:00 UTC · about 1 year ago
Nuclei template available
Scanner coverage available
-
17:39 UTC almost 2 years ago17:39 UTC · almost 2 years ago
Nessus plugin available
Scanner coverage available
-
00:00 UTC about 2 years ago00:00 UTC · about 2 years ago
Added to CISA KEV
Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
-
13:19 UTC about 2 years ago13:19 UTC · about 2 years ago
Public PoC available
Public proof-of-concept code published
-
15:25 UTC about 2 years ago15:25 UTC · about 2 years ago
CVE published
Vulnerability disclosed publicly
-
15:59 UTC about 2 years ago15:59 UTC · about 2 years ago
CVE ID reserved
Identifier reserved by the CNA
Automate This Intelligence with the Pro API
Confidence scoring, exploit status, sensor telemetry, PoCs, scanner integrations, mentions, and tags are available programmatically for VM, SOC, and CTI workflows.
Pro API Example
GET /api/v2/pro/kevs/CVE-2024-36401
{
"cve_id": "CVE-2024-36401",
"title": "Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability in evaluating property name express...",
"affected_vendor": "geoserver",
"affected_product": "geoserver",
"affected_versions": [
{ "vendor": "...", "product": "...", "status": "affected", "display_label": "..." }
],
"confidence": "Confirmed",
"cvss_score": 9.8,
"epss_score": 0.99813,
"exploit_status": {
"exploited_in_the_wild": true,
"active_exploitation_observed": false
},
"sensor_telemetry": { "...": "Pro API fields" },
"proof_of_concepts": [ "..." ],
"scanner_integrations": [ "..." ]
}