# CVE-2026-42555: Valtimo: SpEL injection via StandardEvaluationContext allows Remote Code Execution by admin users

> Admin users can achieve remote code execution and exfiltrate credentials via SpEL injection in Valtimo business process automation platform.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 14 May 2026
- **Updated:** 14 May 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-j7j9-5253-f7vh

## What is CVE-2026-42555?

CVE-2026-42555 is a critical code injection vulnerability in com.ritense.valtimo case, published on 14 May 2026. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Valtimo is an open-source business process automation platform. com.ritense.valtimo:document from 12.0.0 to before 12.32.0, com.ritense.valtimo:case from 13.0.0 to before 13.23.0, and com.ritense.valtimo:contract from 13.4.0 to before 13.23.0 evaluate Spring Expression Language (SpEL) expressions from user-supplied input using StandardEvaluationContext, which provides unrestricted access to Java types and methods. An authenticated user with the ADMIN role can achieve Remote Code Execution and credential exfiltration. This vulnerability is fixed in com.ritense.valtimo:document 2.32.0, com.ritense.valtimo:case 13.23.0, and com.ritense.valtimo:contract 13.23.0.

Weakness: CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-42555?

6 open source packages ship an affected version, including com.ritense.valtimo:case, com.ritense.valtimo:contract and com.ritense.valtimo:document.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `com.ritense.valtimo:case` | Maven | From 13.0.0 | 13.23.0 |
| `com.ritense.valtimo:case` | Maven | From 13.0.0 | 13.23.0 |
| `com.ritense.valtimo:contract` | Maven | From 13.4.0 | 13.23.0 |
| `com.ritense.valtimo:contract` | Maven | From 13.4.0 | 13.23.0 |
| `com.ritense.valtimo:document` | Maven | From 12.0.0 | 12.32.0 |
| `com.ritense.valtimo:document` | Maven | From 12.0.0 | 12.32.0 |

## How do I fix CVE-2026-42555?

Upgrade com.ritense.valtimo:case to 13.23.0 or later.

## Is CVE-2026-42555 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-42555 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-42555 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-42555 is a critical code injection vulnerability in com.ritense.valtimo case, published on 14 May 2026. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-42555 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- com.ritense.valtimo:case (Maven): affected from 13.0.0; fixed in 13.23.0
- com.ritense.valtimo:case (Maven): affected from 13.0.0; fixed in 13.23.0
- com.ritense.valtimo:contract (Maven): affected from 13.4.0; fixed in 13.23.0
- com.ritense.valtimo:contract (Maven): affected from 13.4.0; fixed in 13.23.0
- com.ritense.valtimo:document (Maven): affected from 12.0.0; fixed in 12.32.0
- com.ritense.valtimo:document (Maven): affected from 12.0.0; fixed in 12.32.0

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-2026-42555/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-42555/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-42555
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-42555
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-42555

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-42555/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.