Arbitrary file write in Apache Commons FileuploadGHSA-qx6h-9567-5fqw
Fix: apache/commons-fileupload@163a606GHSA-qx6h-9567-5fqw is a Improper Input Validation vulnerability in commons-fileupload:commons-fileupload. 2 public exploit or proof-of-concept references are indexed, so weaponization risk is real. A fix is available for commons-fileupload:commons-fileupload — see the affected versions and patch details below.
EPSS Exploitation Probability
Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, from FIRST.org EPSS.
Real-World Exposure
commons-fileupload:commons-fileuploadReal-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
The DiskFileItem class in Apache Commons FileUpload, as used in Red Hat JBoss BRMS 5.3.1; JBoss Portal 4.3 CP07, 5.2.2, and 6.0.0; and Red Hat JBoss Web Server 1.0.2 allows remote attackers to write to arbitrary files via a NULL byte in a file name in a serialized instance.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☕Maven | commons-fileupload:commons-fileupload | all versions | 1.3.1commons-fileupload:commons-fileupload:1.3.1 |
Affected Products
jboss enterprise brms platformredhatjboss enterprise portal platformredhatjboss enterprise web serverredhatopenshiftredhatubuntuubuntuResearch use only. For defensive security, authorized penetration testing, and academic research only. Never execute exploit code against systems without explicit written authorization.
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for commons-fileupload:commons-fileupload, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update commons-fileupload:commons-fileupload to 1.3.1 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms GHSA-qx6h-9567-5fqw 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.
Fixing This On Your OS
If you run this on a Linux distribution, patch through your package manager against the distro's own security advisory below — it tracks the exact backported fix for your release, which can ship on a different timeline (and sometimes a different severity) than the upstream project.
| Product | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|
| JBoss Enterprise BRMS Platform 5.3 | see advisory | RHSA-2013:1430 |
| Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Web Server 1 for RHEL 5 | jakarta-commons-fileupload-1:1.1.1-7.7.ep5.el5 | RHSA-2013:1428 |
| Red Hat JBoss Operations Network 3.1 | see advisory | RHSA-2013:1448 |
| Red Hat JBoss SOA Platform 4.3 | see advisory | RHSA-2013:1442 |
| Red Hat JBoss Web Server 1.0 | see advisory | RHSA-2013:1429 |
| Red Hat OpenShift Enterprise 3.1 | atomic-openshift-0:3.1.1.6-1.git.0.b57e8bd.el7aos | RHSA-2016:0070 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GHSA-qx6h-9567-5fqw in your dependencies?
Find it across Maven, including transitive dependencies.