# CVE-2019-0195: Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Apache Tapestry

> Attackers can exploit insecure deserialization in Apache Tapestry to execute arbitrary code by guessing classpath assets and crafting malicious payloads.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 16 Sep 2019
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-6mwh-fw4p-75fj

## What is CVE-2019-0195?

CVE-2019-0195 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Apache Tapestry, published on 16 Sep 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Manipulating classpath asset file URLs, an attacker could guess the path to a known file in the classpath and have it downloaded. If the attacker found the file with the value of the tapestry.hmac-passphrase configuration symbol, most probably the webapp's AppModule class, the value of this symbol could be used to craft a Java deserialization attack, thus running malicious injected Java code. The vector would be the t:formdata parameter from the Form component.

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-0195?

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


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `org.apache.tapestry:tapestry-core` | Maven | From 5.4.0 | 5.4.5 |
| `org.apache.tapestry:tapestry-core` | Maven | From 5.4.0 | 5.4.5 |

Products: Apache Tapestry.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-0195?

Upgrade org.apache.tapestry:tapestry-core to 5.4.5 or later.

## Is CVE-2019-0195 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-0195 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apache Tapestry

- [CVE-2022-46366](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-46366/): Apache Tapestry prior to version 4 (EOL) allows RCE though deserialization of untrusted input (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-27850](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-27850/): Bypass of the fix for CVE-2019-0195 (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-17531](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-17531/): Deserialization flaw in EOL Tapestry 4. (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-10071](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-10071/): Timing attack on HMAC signature comparison in Apache Tapestry (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2014-1972](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-1972/): Apache Tapestry Unsafe Object Storage (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-0195 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-0195 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Apache Tapestry, published on 16 Sep 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-0195 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- org.apache.tapestry:tapestry-core (Maven): affected from 5.4.0; fixed in 5.4.5
- org.apache.tapestry:tapestry-core (Maven): affected from 5.4.0; fixed in 5.4.5

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-2019-0195/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-0195/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-0195
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-0195
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-0195

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-0195/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.