CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-55083NVD status: Awaiting Analysis

dhis2-core: Deserialization of Untrusted Data

CVE-2026-55083 is a critical-severity deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability in dhis2-core from Dhis2, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. Affected dhis2-core versions: >= 2.42.0, < 2.42.5.1; >= 2.43.0, < 2.43.0.1. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.57% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Check which version of dhis2-core you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Dhis2dhis2-core>= 2.42.0, < 2.42.5.1; >= 2.43.0, < 2.43.0.1Not 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
HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (github.com).

Official description

DHIS2 is a flexible information system for data capture, management, validation, analytics and visualization. From versions 2.42.0 to before 2.42.5.1, and from versions 2.43.0 to before 2.43.0.1, DHIS2 is vulnerable to remote code execution (RCE) via unsafe Java deserialization. This issue has been patched in versions 2.42.5.1, 2.43.0.1, and 2.44.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Deserialization of Untrusted Data

The product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • If available, use the signing/sealing features of the programming language to assure that deserialized data has not been tainted. For example, a hash-based message authentication code (HMAC) could be used to ensure that data has not been modified.
  • When deserializing data, populate a new object rather than just deserializing. The result is that the data flows through safe input validation and that the functions are safe.
  • Explicitly define a final object() to prevent deserialization.

More Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerabilities (CWE-502)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in dhis2-core

All dhis2-core vulnerabilities

Recent Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerabilities

Spotted an error? Tell us.