SpEL Injection in `GET /api/v1/events/subscriptions/validation/condition/<expr>` in OpenMetadata
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-78.
Summary
OpenMetadata is a unified platform for discovery, observability, and governance powered by a central metadata repository, in-depth lineage, and seamless team collaboration. The `AlertUtil::validateExpression` method evaluates an SpEL expression using `getValue` which by default uses the `StandardEvaluationContext`, allowing the expression to reach and interact with Java classes such as `java.lang.Runtime`, leading to Remote Code Execution. The `/api/v1/events/subscriptions/validation/condition/<expression>` endpoint passes user-controlled data `AlertUtil::validateExpession` allowing authenticated (non-admin) users to execute arbitrary system commands on the underlaying operating system. In addition, there is a missing authorization check since `Authorizer.authorize()` is never called in the affected path and, therefore, any authenticated non-admin user is able to trigger this endpoint and evaluate arbitrary SpEL expressions leading to arbitrary command execution. This vulnerability was discovered with the help of CodeQL's Expression language injection (Spring) query and is also tracked as `GHSL-2023-235`. This issue may lead to Remote Code Execution and has been addressed in version 1.2.4. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| open-metadata | OpenMetadata | before 1.2.4 | 1.2.4 | Patch available | CNA |
- OpenMetadata Vendoropen-metadata Affected before 1.2.4 Fixed in 1.2.4 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:open-metadata:openmetadata:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 1.2.4 | Vulnerable | open-metadata |
- cpe:2.3:a:open-metadata:openmetadata:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 1.2.4 Vulnerable ·open-metadata
Remediation
- Fix · CNA OpenMetadata (open-metadata) Fixed in 1.2.4
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2024-28254
References
Other 4
- https://codeql.github.com/codeql-query-help/java/java-spel-expression-injection
- https://github.com/open-metadata/OpenMetadata/blob/84054a85d3478e3e3795fe92daa633ec11c9d6d9/openmetadata-service/src/main/java/org/openmetadata/service/events/subscription/AlertUtil.java#L101
- https://github.com/open-metadata/OpenMetadata/blob/84054a85d3478e3e3795fe92daa633ec11c9d6d9/openmetadata-service/src/main/java/org/openmetadata/service/events/subscription/AlertUtil.java#L108
- https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/blob/4e2d3573189b7c0afce62bce29cd915de4077f56/spring-expression/src/main/java/org/springframework/expression/spel/standard/SpelExpression.java#L106
More open-metadata Openmetadata vulnerabilities
- TI-2024-18814 Authentication Bypass in OpenMetadata CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2024-19050 SpEL Injection in `GET /api/v1/policies/validation/condition/<expr>` in OpenMetadata CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2024-19049 SpEL Injection in `PUT /api/v1/events/subscriptions` in OpenMetadata CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-17854 OpenMetadata Server-Side Template Injection (SSTI) in FreeMarker email templates that leads to RCE CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.5
- TI-2024-36809 OpenMetadata <=1.4.1 is vulnerable to SQL Injection. CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-21024 Leaky JWTs in OpenMetadata exposing highly-privileged bot users CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.6
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences