CVE-2024-36404
GeoTools Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability in evaluating XPath expressions
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Description
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.
Official description from the CVE record, published by GitHub_M. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See /security/cve/legal for the CVE license. View the record on cve.org
Key data
CVSS 3.1 Critical 9.8
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector: Network
The vulnerable component can be reached over a network, possibly from the Internet.
Attack complexity: Low
No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will.
Privileges required: None
No account or privileges are needed.
User interaction: None
No action from any user is needed.
Scope: Unchanged
The impact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality impact: High
Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data.
Integrity impact: High
Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data.
Availability impact: High
Serious or total effect on availability.
| Metric | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Attack vector | Network | The vulnerable component can be reached over a network, possibly from the Internet. |
| Attack complexity | Low | No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will. |
| Privileges required | None | No account or privileges are needed. |
| User interaction | None | No action from any user is needed. |
| Scope | Unchanged | The impact stays within the vulnerable component. |
| Confidentiality impact | High | Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data. |
| Integrity impact | High | Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data. |
| Availability impact | High | Serious or total effect on availability. |
CVSS is owned and managed by FIRST.Org, Inc. (FIRST) and is used by permission. Each CVSS score on this site is shown together with its vector string, as published in the CVE record by the source named next to it. Learn more at first.org/cvss.
EPSS
- Score
- 0.76065 (76.1% probability)
- Percentile
- 99.5%
- Scores of
- Nov 10, 2026
- Model
- v2026.06.15
CISA assessment as of Jul 12, 2024
- Automatable
- yes
- Technical impact
- total
Weakness (CWE)
- CWE-95Improper Neutralization of Directives in Dynamically Evaluated Code
Affected products
geotools
- affected: < 29.6
- affected: >= 30.0, < 30.4
- affected: >= 31.0, < 31.2
References
- github.com/geotools/geotools/security/advisories/GHSA-w3pj-…
- github.com/geotools/geotools/pull/4797
- github.com/geotools/geotools/commit/f0c9961dc4d40c5acfce216…
- github.com/Warxim/CVE-2022-41852?tab=readme-ov-file
- osgeo-org.atlassian.net/browse/GEOT-7587
- sourceforge.net/projects/geotools/files/GeoTools%2024%20Rel…
- sourceforge.net/projects/geotools/files/GeoTools%2025%20Rel…
- sourceforge.net/projects/geotools/files/GeoTools%2026%20Rel…
- sourceforge.net/projects/geotools/files/GeoTools%2026%20Rel…
- sourceforge.net/projects/geotools/files/GeoTools%2027%20Rel…
- sourceforge.net/projects/geotools/files/GeoTools%2027%20Rel…
- sourceforge.net/projects/geotools/files/GeoTools%2028%20Rel…
- sourceforge.net/projects/geotools/files/GeoTools%2029%20Rel…
- sourceforge.net/projects/geotools/files/GeoTools%2030%20Rel…
- sourceforge.net/projects/geotools/files/GeoTools%2030%20Rel…
- sourceforge.net/projects/geotools/files/GeoTools%2031%20Rel…
Timeline
- ID reserved
- Record published
- Record last updated
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About CubePath
Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 19:50 UTC. Sources and licenses