CVE-2024-36404
CRITICALGeoTools Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability in evaluating XPath expressions
EPSS Exploitation Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) is a daily probability model maintained by FIRST.org. It estimates the likelihood a CVE will be exploited in production environments within the next 30 days, derived from real-world threat intelligence signals.
Blast Radius
org.geotools:gt-app-schema☕org.geotools:gt-complex☕org.geotools.xsd:gt-xsd-core☕org.geotools:gt-app-schema☕org.geotools:gt-complex☕org.geotools.xsd:gt-xsd-core☕org.geotools:gt-app-schema☕org.geotools:gt-complex+4 moreReal-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects Maven packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.
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.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☕Maven | org.geotools:gt-app-schema | ≥ 30.0&&< 30.4 | 30.4 |
| ☕Maven | org.geotools:gt-complex | ≥ 30.0&&< 30.4 | 30.4 |
| ☕Maven | org.geotools.xsd:gt-xsd-core | ≥ 30.0&&< 30.4 | 30.4 |
| ☕Maven | org.geotools:gt-app-schema | ≥ 31.0&&< 31.2 | 31.2 |
| ☕Maven | org.geotools:gt-complex | ≥ 31.0&&< 31.2 | 31.2 |
| ☕Maven | org.geotools.xsd:gt-xsd-core | ≥ 31.0&&< 31.2 | 31.2 |
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for org.geotools:gt-app-schema. O3's reachability analysis confirms whether the vulnerable code path is actually invoked in your application, so you act on real exposure instead of every transitive match.
Fix
Update org.geotools:gt-app-schema to 30.4 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2024-36404 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
How O3 protects you
O3 pinpoints whether CVE-2024-36404 is reachable in your code and exactly where to fix it, then blocks exploitation in production at runtime until the patched version is deployed.
Tailored to CVE-2024-36404. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2024-36404 in your dependencies?
O3 detects CVE-2024-36404 across Maven dependencies and uses function-level reachability to confirm whether the vulnerable code path is actually reachable — not just present. No false positives.