CVE-2024-36404

CRITICAL NUCLEI

GeoTools < 29.6, 30.0-30.4, 31.0-31.2 - Remote Code Execution via XPath Expression Evaluation

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2024-36404. PoCs published by whitebear-ch. A Nuclei detection template is also available.

AI-analyzed exploit summary The repository lacks actual exploit code and only contains a README with vague descriptions and external links. It appears to be a social engineering lure rather than a legitimate PoC.

Description

GeoTools is an open source Java library that provides tools for geospatial data. Prior to versions 31.2, 30.4, and 29.6, Remote Code Execution (RCE) is possible if an application uses certain GeoTools functionality to evaluate XPath expressions supplied by user input. Versions 31.2, 30.4, and 29.6 contain a fix for this issue. As a workaround, GeoTools can operate with reduced functionality by removing the `gt-complex` jar from one's application. As an example of the impact, application schema `datastore` would not function without the ability to use XPath expressions to query complex content. Alternatively, one may utilize a drop-in replacement GeoTools jar from SourceForge for versions 31.1, 30.3, 30.2, 29.2, 28.2, 27.5, 27.4, 26.7, 26.4, 25.2, and 24.0. These jars are for download only and are not available from maven central, intended to quickly provide a fix to affected applications.

Exploits (1)

github SUSPICIOUS 120 stars
by whitebear-ch · poc
https://github.com/whitebear-ch/GeoServerExploit

The repository lacks actual exploit code and only contains a README with vague descriptions and external links. It appears to be a social engineering lure rather than a legitimate PoC.

Classification
Suspicious 90%
Attack Type
Other
Complexity
Theoretical
Reliability
Theoretical
Target: GeoServer
No auth needed
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 19, 2026 Full analysis →

Nuclei Templates (1)

GeoServer and GeoTools - Remote Code Execution
CRITICALVERIFIEDby ritikchaddha,darses
Shodan: title:"geoserver" || http.html_hash:1093634893 "Content-Disposition: inline" || http.favicon.hash:97540678 || html:"/geoserver/"
FOFA: title="geoserver" || app="geoserver" || icon_hash="97540678" || body="/geoserver/"

References (16)

Core 16
Core References
Issue Tracking x_refsource_misc
https://github.com/geotools/geotools/pull/4797
Various Sources x_refsource_misc
https://osgeo-org.atlassian.net/browse/GEOT-7587

Scores

CVSS v3 9.8
EPSS 0.9075
EPSS Percentile 99.6%
Attack Vector NETWORK
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation none
Automatable yes
Technical Impact total

Details

CWE
CWE-95
Status published
Products (6)
geotools/geotools < 29.6
geotools/geotools >= 30.0, < 30.4
geotools/geotools >= 31.0, < 31.2
org.geotools/gt-app-schema 30.0 - 30.4Maven
org.geotools/gt-complex 30.0 - 30.4Maven
org.geotools.xsd/gt-xsd-core 30.0 - 30.4Maven
Published Jul 02, 2024
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026