In Eclipse Vert.x versions [4.0.0, 4.5.34] or [5.0.0,5.0.12] or [5.1.0,5.1.9] or [5.2.0, 5.2.0], the Vert.x DB2 client (vertx-db2-client) contains DRDA protocol handling code that deserializes User Defined Type (UDT) column data using a bare ObjectInputStream.readObject() call with no ObjectInputFilter or class allowlist
Why It Matters
Analysis dossierWhy It Matters
In Eclipse Vert.x versions [4.0.0, 4.5.34] or [5.0.0,5.0.12] or [5.1.0,5.1.9] or [5.2.0, 5.2.0], the Vert.x DB2 client (vertx-db2-client) contains DRDA protocol handling code that deserializes User Defined Type (UDT) column data using a bare ObjectInputStream.readObject() call with no ObjectInputFilter or class allowlist. This code path is triggered when a DRDA server sends a result set with a column tagged as UDT (FDOCA protocol LID 0x50). However, DB2 does not support this type of UDT. The FDOCA 0x50 type is never sent by a legitimate DB2 server. Nevertheless, a malicious or man-in-the-middle DRDA server could craft a response with a 0x50-tagged column, causing the client to deserialize arbitrary attacker-controlled bytes on the Vert.x event loop before any application code can inspect or reject the data. If a Java deserialization gadget chain is present on the application's classpath, this enables remote code execution. Without a gadget chain, denial of service is possible via crafted object graphs. TLS is disabled by default, making man-in-the-middle exploitation feasible. The impacted component is io.vertx:vertx-db2-client.
High Severity / Review
Unknown
Unknown
Risk basis: SOC ecosystem technology relevance; CRITICAL severity; Critical CVSS without confirmed KEV exploitation
Affected Products & Remediation
0 source-backed productsVendor or catalog guidance (source)
Not provided by source
Known exploitation (source facts)
Only what a source states. Unknown means no source has said either way; it is not "not exploited".
- CISA KEV
- Unknown
- Exploited (source statement)
- Unknown
- Publicly disclosed (source)
- Unknown
Suggested hunting (rule-based inference)
SecOps Signal recommendation (rule-based inference). These steps are hunting hypotheses from the vulnerability class; they do not state or imply that exploitation occurred here or anywhere.
Matched deserialization (CWE-502); network-unauthenticated (CVSS AV:N, CVSS PR:N, CVSS UI:N)
Exposure
- Find installations of the affected component and confirm the source-stated version range.Telemetry: Application inventory · Deserialization risk requires component and version evidence. · Rule deserialization
- Identify devices reporting this CVE and note which expose the affected service to untrusted networks.Telemetry: DeviceTvmSoftwareVulnerabilities · A network-reachable, no-privilege vector makes internet-facing instances the first exposure question. · Rule network-unauthenticated
Exploitation evidence
- Review unusual child processes or network connections from the affected service.Telemetry: DeviceProcessEvents · Unexpected behavior may support investigation but is not proof by itself. · Rule deserialization
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Exploitation evidence
- Review inbound connections to the affected service from unexpected sources since the advisory date.Telemetry: DeviceNetworkEvents · Hunting hypothesis from the CVSS vector; it does not show that exploitation occurred. · Rule network-unauthenticated
Response
- Verify the vendor update or mitigation on each affected installation.Telemetry: Application change records · Response must follow the authoritative source guidance. · Rule deserialization
CISA KEV Record
CISA KEV status was not determined for this record.
Change History & Source Data
— No recorded material change
- CNA / source
- emo@eclipse.org
- Record status · verification
- UPDATED · NVD API
- CPE
- Unknown
Evidence & Provenance
— No published hunting query names this record. Browse community and library queries instead.
Correlated briefings
— No published briefing references this CVE