# CVE-2017-12628: Apache James Privilege Escalation

> A deserialization flaw in Apache James JMX server allows local attackers to execute arbitrary commands and escalate privileges.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 20 Oct 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-xj7q-q94c-6wr3

## What is CVE-2017-12628?

CVE-2017-12628 is a high-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Apache James, published on 20 Oct 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The JMX server embedded in Apache James, also used by the command line client is exposed to a java de-serialization issue, and thus can be used to execute arbitrary commands. As James exposes JMX socket by default only on local-host, this vulnerability can only be used for privilege escalation. Release 3.0.1 upgrades the incriminated library.

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-12628?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.apache.james:james-project. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `org.apache.james:james-project` | Maven | All versions | 3.0.1 |
| `org.apache.james:james-project` | Maven | All versions | 3.0.1 |

Products: Apache James Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-12628?

Upgrade org.apache.james:james-project to 3.0.1 or later.

## Is CVE-2017-12628 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-12628 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apache James

- [CVE-2024-37358](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-37358/): Apache James: denial of service through the use of IMAP literals (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2015-7611](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-7611/): Apache James Server OS Command Injection (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2024-45626](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-45626/): Apache James: denial of service through JMAP HTML to text conversion (medium 6.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-12628 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-12628 is a high-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Apache James, published on 20 Oct 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-12628 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- org.apache.james:james-project (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 3.0.1
- org.apache.james:james-project (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 3.0.1

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-12628/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-12628/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-12628
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-12628
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-12628

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-12628/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.