# CVE-2022-4244: Codehaus-plexus: directory traversal

> Attackers can access arbitrary files outside the intended directory via path traversal in the Codehaus Plexus library.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 25 Sep 2023
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** CLSA-2025-1765325274, DEBIAN-CVE-2022-4244, GHSA-g6ph-x5wf-g337, UBUNTU-CVE-2022-4244

## What is CVE-2022-4244?

CVE-2022-4244 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Red Hat A-MQ Clients 2, published on 25 Sep 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A flaw was found in codeplex-codehaus. A directory traversal attack (also known as path traversal) aims to access files and directories stored outside the intended folder. By manipulating files with "dot-dot-slash (../)" sequences and their variations or by using absolute file paths, it may be possible to access arbitrary files and directories stored on the file system, including application source code, configuration, and other critical system files.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-4244?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.codehaus.plexus:plexus-utils. It affects 2 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `org.codehaus.plexus:plexus-utils` | Maven | All versions | 3.0.24 |
| `org.codehaus.plexus:plexus-utils` | Maven | All versions | 3.0.24 |

Products: Codehaus-Plexus Plexus-Utils, Redhat Integration Camel K.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-4244?

Upgrade org.codehaus.plexus:plexus-utils to 3.0.24 or later.

## Is CVE-2022-4244 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2022-4244 exists.

Public exploit code:

- https://github.com/shoucheng3/codehaus-plexus__plexus-utils_CVE-2022-4244_3-0-23 (github_poc): https://github.com/shoucheng3/codehaus-plexus__plexus-utils_CVE-2022-4244_3-0-23

## Other vulnerabilities in Red Hat A-MQ Clients 2

- [CVE-2017-1000487](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-1000487/): OS Command Injection in Plexus-utils (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2025-67030](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-67030/): Plexus-Utils has a Directory Traversal vulnerability in its extractFile method (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2022-4245](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-4245/): Codehaus-plexus: xml external entity (xxe) injection (medium 4.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-4244 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-4244 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Red Hat A-MQ Clients 2, published on 25 Sep 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2022-4244 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- org.codehaus.plexus:plexus-utils (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 3.0.24
- org.codehaus.plexus:plexus-utils (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 3.0.24

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-2022-4244/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-4244/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-4244
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-4244
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-4244

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-4244/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.