Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
GeoServer can let an unauthenticated remote attacker run code on the server. The flaw affects default installations because property names are evaluated unsafely as XPath expressions. CISA lists this CVE in KEV, so exploitation has occurred. Treat internet-exposed GeoServer as an urgent remediation item.
Executive priority
Prioritize emergency remediation for any internet-facing GeoServer. This is unauthenticated remote code execution with known exploitation and full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. Internal-only systems still need rapid patching because compromise can provide a foothold into geospatial data services and connected infrastructure.
Technical view
GeoServer calls GeoTools, which can pass feature property names into commons-jxpath for XPath evaluation. That evaluation can execute arbitrary code and was incorrectly applied beyond complex feature types, making all GeoServer instances in the affected ranges vulnerable. Confirmed request surfaces include WFS, WMS, and WPS operations.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely wherever GeoServer runs versions before 2.22.6, 2.23.6, 2.24.4, or 2.25.2. Public OGC endpoints increase urgency, but the advisory states the issue applies to all GeoServer instances, not only deployments using Application Schema data stores.
Exploitation context
CISA KEV inclusion confirms known exploitation. The source bundle says exploitation was confirmed through several OGC request types, but provides no public PoC details. No exploit workflow should be needed for triage; version and endpoint exposure are enough to prioritize response.
Researcher notes
Evidence is strong for affected versions, root cause, request families, patch versions, workaround, and KEV status. The provided sources do not include safe detection signatures or complete exploitation telemetry. Validate by version, module presence, network exposure, and logs rather than attempting exploit reproduction.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade GeoServer to 2.22.6, 2.23.6, 2.24.4, 2.25.2, or later supported releases.
- If upgrade is delayed, evaluate removing the matching gt-complex jar as the documented workaround.
- Test the workaround first; it may break complex feature functionality or prevent deployment.
- Restrict public access to GeoServer OGC endpoints until patched.
- Review vendor advisories for any newer release-specific guidance.
Validation and detection
- Inventory all GeoServer deployments and record exact versions.
- Confirm whether WFS, WMS, and WPS endpoints are reachable from untrusted networks.
- Verify patched versions are deployed after remediation.
- Check whether gt-complex remains installed on unpatched systems.
- Review GeoServer logs for unusual OGC requests and unexpected server-side execution indicators.
Public sources used
Michael Williams reviewed this cited source version on .
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-95: Code execution behavior lookup
Code execution and unsafe deserialization weaknesses often justify reviewing execution behavior and process telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2024-36401 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- Yes
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CISA KEV status
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.8CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/geoserver/geoserver/security/advisories/GHSA-6jj6-gm7p-fcvvCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://github.com/geotools/geotools/security/advisories/GHSA-w3pj-wh35-fq8wCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/geotools/geotools/pull/4797CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/Warxim/CVE-2022-41852?tab=readme-ov-file#workaround-for-cve-2022-41852CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://osgeo-org.atlassian.net/browse/GEOT-7587CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2024-36401CVE reference · government-resource
- https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/geoserver-rce-cve-2024-36401CVE reference
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Directives in Dynamically Evaluated Code ('Eval Injection')
Improper Neutralization of Directives in Dynamically Evaluated Code ('Eval Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.