GHSA-j3rv-43j4-c7qm: jackson-databind has a PolymorphicTypeValidator bypass via generic type parameters that allows arbitrary class instantiation
jackson-databind's PolymorphicTypeValidator (PTV) is the primary safety mechanism guarding polymorphic deserialization. When polymorphic typing is enabled and a type identifier contains generic parameters (i.e. the type ID string contains <), DatabindContext._resolveAndValidateGeneric() validates only the raw container class name (the substring before <) against the configured PTV.
If the container type is approved, the method parses the full canonical type string via TypeFactory.constructFromCanonical() and returns the fully parameterized type without ever validating the nested type arguments against the PTV. The nested type arguments are then resolved, instantiated, and populated as beans during deserialization.
An attacker who controls the type ID can therefore place a denied class as a generic type parameter of an allowed container — for example java.util.ArrayList<com.evil.Gadget> when only java.util.ArrayList is allow-listed. The container passes the PTV check; com.evil.Gadget is loaded via Class.forName(name, true, loader), instantiated, and its properties are set from attacker-controlled JSON. This completely bypasses an explicitly configured PTV allow-list.
This is the same vulnerability class responsible for the historical sequence of jackson-databind deserialization CVEs; here it manifests as a validator bypass rather than a missing deny-list entry.
Impact
- Bypass of the PTV allow-list, including the recommended BasicPolymorphicTypeValidator configured with name-prefix allow rules.
- Arbitrary class instantiation of any type assignable to the container's element/parameter position, with attacker-controlled property values (setter/field injection).
- Potential unauthenticated remote code execution when a class with exploitable side effects (JNDI lookup, JDBC/connection-pool gadgets,TemplatesImpl-style loaders, etc.) is present on the classpath.
Applications that accept untrusted JSON and rely on a configured PTV — the documented, security-conscious
Details
Original advisory: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-j3rv-43j4-c7qm
Exploitation outlook
EPSS (FIRST.org) estimates each CVE’s probability of exploitation in the next 30 days — here is the CSIRTS.com read on those numbers.
- Low exploitation riskCVE-2026-545120.78% 30-day exploitation probability — currently an unlikely target, but scores change as exploit code circulates. Riskier than 52% of all scored CVEs.
Referenced CVEs
| CVE | CSIRTS overview | External |
|---|---|---|
| CVE-2026-54512 | coverage & exploitation status | NVD · CVE.org |
Same CVEs, other sources
How other CERTs, PSIRTs and databases cover the vulnerabilities in this advisory.
More from GitHub Security Advisories
- mediumGHSA-xm43-3m56-w3wf: Ghost: Paid gift memberships obtainable at minimal cost via the donations feature2026-08-04
- mediumGHSA-chgm-3698-jm42: Ghost: Member existence leak via magic link sign-in response2026-08-04
- highGHSA-xpp7-93x6-v29m: XSS in Ghost's ActivityPub client2026-08-04
- mediumGHSA-7mpp-r37j-x5wh: Ghost: Session Fixation in Ghost Admin2026-08-04
- mediumGHSA-cjc9-q5gf-327p: Ghost: Theme Upload Path Traversal2026-08-04