core-geonetwork: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation
CVE-2026-39379 is a high-severity improper neutralization of input during web page generation vulnerability in core-geonetwork from GeoNetwork, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, but only if a user takes part, for example by opening a link or file. Affected core-geonetwork versions: >= 3.0.0, <= 3.12.12; >= 4.0.0-alpha.1, <= 4.0.6; >= 4.2.0, < 4.2.15, and others listed below. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.36% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of core-geonetwork you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
- Because the attack needs a user to take part, warn users about unexpected links and files related to this product until it is patched.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geonetwork | core-geonetwork | >= 3.0.0, <= 3.12.12; >= 4.0.0-alpha.1, <= 4.0.6; >= 4.2.0, < 4.2.15; >= 4.4.0, < 4.4.10 | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- RequiredA user must take an action such as opening a file or link.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- LowSome restricted data can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N. Scored by CNA (github.com).
Official description
GeoNetwork is a catalog application to manage spatially referenced resources. From 3.0.0 until 4.2.15 and 4.4.10, requesting a nonexistent or unauthorized service URL can cause an error page to reflect attacker-controlled request content inside an AngularJS application without adequately neutralizing it for template evaluation. A remote attacker can induce a victim, including an administrator, to open a crafted link so the reflected value is evaluated as an AngularJS template expression. Combined with known AngularJS sandbox-escape techniques, this can execute arbitrary JavaScript in the victim's authenticated browser session, disclose information, or perform actions as the victim. This issue is fixed in versions 4.2.15 and 4.4.10.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation
The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. Examples of libraries and frameworks that make it easier to generate properly encoded output include Microsoft's Anti-XSS library, the OWASP ESAPI Encoding module, and Apache Wicket.
- Understand all the potential areas where untrusted inputs can enter your software: parameters or arguments, cookies, anything read from the network, environment variables, reverse DNS lookups, query results, request headers, URL components, e-mail, files, filenames, databases, and any external systems that provide data to the application. Remember that such inputs may be obtained indirectly through API calls.
- For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
More Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation vulnerabilities (CWE-79)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Other vulnerabilities in core-geonetwork
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
Recent Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation vulnerabilities
- 7.2 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.0 Critical severity
- 7.3 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.4 High severity
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