# CVE-2020-11986: Code injection in Apache NetBeans

> Apache NetBeans executes Gradle build scripts without user consent upon project load, allowing attackers to run malicious code via crafted projects.

- **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:** 9 Sep 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2020-11986, GHSA-cj3p-fc7w-fx87, UBUNTU-CVE-2020-11986

## What is CVE-2020-11986?

CVE-2020-11986 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Apache NetBeans, published on 9 Sep 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

To be able to analyze gradle projects, the build scripts need to be executed. Apache NetBeans follows this pattern. This causes the code of the build script to be invoked at load time of the project. Apache NetBeans up to and including 12.0 did not request consent from the user for the analysis of the project at load time. This in turn will run potentially malicious code, from an external source, without the consent of the user.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-11986?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Apache Netbeans.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-11986?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2020-11986 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-11986 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apache NetBeans

- [CVE-2018-17191](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-17191/): Code injection in Apache NetBeans (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-17560](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-17560/): Improper Certificate Validation in Apache Netbeans (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2019-17561](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-17561/): Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature in Apache Netbeans (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-11986 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-11986 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Apache NetBeans, published on 9 Sep 2020. 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-2020-11986 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Apache NetBeans. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

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-2020-11986/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11986/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-11986
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-11986
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-11986

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11986/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.