GeoTools Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability in evaluating XPath expressions

Summary

GeoTools is an open source Java library that provides tools for geospatial data. Prior to versions 31.2, 30.4, and 29.6, Remote Code Execution (RCE) is possible if an application uses certain GeoTools functionality to evaluate XPath expressions supplied by user input. Versions 31.2, 30.4, and 29.6 contain a fix for this issue. As a workaround, GeoTools can operate with reduced functionality by removing the `gt-complex` jar from one's application. As an example of the impact, application schema `datastore` would not function without the ability to use XPath expressions to query complex content. Alternatively, one may utilize a drop-in replacement GeoTools jar from SourceForge for versions 31.1, 30.3, 30.2, 29.2, 28.2, 27.5, 27.4, 26.7, 26.4, 25.2, and 24.0. These jars are for download only and are not available from maven central, intended to quickly provide a fix to affected applications.

Timeline

1. Jul 2, 2024, 1:39 PM UTCCVE published
2. Jul 12, 2024, 3:55 AM UTCCISA SSVC assessment

   Exploitation: none · Automatable: yes · Technical impact: total

3. Aug 2, 2024, 3:37 AM UTCRecord last updated
4. Oct 28, 2026EPSS reached 10%

   FIRST estimates at least a 10% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days

Affected versions

• geotools geotools

  fixed in 29.6; From 30.0 · fixed in 30.4; From 31.0 · fixed in 31.2

• org.geotools:gt-app-schemaMaven

  From 30.0 · fixed in 30.4

• org.geotools:gt-complexMaven

  From 30.0 · fixed in 30.4

• org.geotools.xsd:gt-xsd-coreMaven

  From 30.0 · fixed in 30.4

• org.geotools:gt-app-schemaMaven

  From 31.0 · fixed in 31.2

• org.geotools:gt-complexMaven

  From 31.0 · fixed in 31.2

• org.geotools.xsd:gt-xsd-coreMaven

  From 31.0 · fixed in 31.2

• org.geotools:gt-app-schemaMaven

  From 29.0 · fixed in 29.6

• org.geotools:gt-complexMaven

  From 29.0 · fixed in 29.6

• org.geotools.xsd:gt-xsd-coreMaven

  From 29.0 · fixed in 29.6

• org.geotools:gt-app-schemaMaven

  fixed in 28.6

• org.geotools:gt-complexMaven

  fixed in 28.6

• org.geotools.xsd:gt-xsd-coreMaven

  fixed in 28.6

References 17