CVE-2017-12149
CVE-2017-12149 is a security flaw in Red Hat JBoss Application Server. Attackers can run their own code on Red Hat JBoss Application Server. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 10 Dec 2021, and says ransomware gangs have used it.[1]
Red Hat JBoss Application Server is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff.
Description
CISA calls it a remote code execution in Red Hat JBoss Application Server. In its words: “The JBoss Application Server, shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Application Platform 5.2, allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code via crafted serialized data.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “In Jboss Application Server as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Application Platform 5.2, it was found that the doFilter method in the ReadOnlyAccessFilter of the HTTP Invoker does not restrict classes for which it performs deserialization and thus allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code via crafted serialized data.”[2]
The underlying weakness is deserialization of untrusted data (CWE-502), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 9.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it critical, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record doesn’t list version ranges for it. CISA names the product as Red Hat JBoss Application Server.
Most families won’t have Red Hat JBoss Application Server; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 10 Dec 2021, 1,528 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 10 Jun 2022 to fix it.[1] CISA says ransomware gangs have used it.
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 91%. That’s in the top 1% of the flaws it scores.[3]
CISA assesses it as automatable: attackers can run it against many targets at once.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.Red Hat JBoss Application Server is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed, or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 10 Jun 2022 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 9.8.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks, noting that ransomware gangs have used it.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 91%.[3] |
See also
Other Red Hat flaws
- CVE-2015-5287, Red Hat Automatic Bug Reporting Tool: privilege escalation ·
- CVE-2015-3246, Red Hat Libuser: race condition ·
- CVE-2018-14667, Red Hat JBoss RichFaces Framework: expression language injection ·
- CVE-2021-3560, Red Hat Polkit: incorrect authorization ·
- CVE-2021-4034, Red Hat Polkit: out-of-bounds read and write ·
Other deserialization of untrusted data flaws
- CVE-2021-23758, Ajax.NET Professional: deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2026-63077, JetBrains TeamCity: deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2026-50522, Microsoft SharePoint: deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2026-58644, Microsoft SharePoint: deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2026-45659, Microsoft SharePoint Server: deserialization of untrusted data ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2021-44515, Zoho Desktop Central: authentication bypass ·
- CVE-2021-44228, Apache Log4j2: remote code execution ·
- CVE-2021-44168, Fortinet FortiOS: arbitrary file download ·
- CVE-2021-35394, Realtek Jungle Software Development Kit (SDK): jungle SDK remote code execution ·
- CVE-2020-8816, Pi-hole AdminLTE: remote code execution ·
Every Red Hat flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in December 2021
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Red Hat JBoss Application Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 10 Dec 2021.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2017-12149 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 4 Oct 2017.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.907, percentile 99.8, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2017-12149”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.