Description
GeoNetwork is a catalog application to manage spatially referenced resources. Prior to versions 4.4.12 and 4.2.17, the Saxon XSLT processor used to render formatters is configured without secure processing (`FEATURE_SECURE_PROCESSING`) and without disabling Java extension functions (`ALLOW_EXTERNAL_FUNCTIONS`). Any stylesheet loaded by GeoNetwork can therefore invoke
`java.lang.Runtime.exec()` or `java.lang.ProcessBuilder` directly, achieving arbitrary command execution as the GeoNetwork process user. A user with sufficient privileges to upload a formatter can deliver a `.xsl` file containing Java extension call that execute arbitrary OS commands with the privileges of the GeoNetwork process. The issue is patched in GeoNetwork versions 4.4.12 and 4.2.17.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| geonetwork | core-geonetwork | >= 4.3.0, < 4.4.12, < 4.2.17 | — |
Advisories 1
- NCSC-2026-0343 Kwetsbaarheden verholpen in GeoNetwork door OpenGeo NCSC-NL (Netherlands) · Sep 7, 2026
References
- https://github.com/geonetwork/core-geonetwork/security/advisories/GHSA-x898-729x-cc3r
- https://docs.geonetwork-opensource.org/4.2/overview/change-log/version-4.2.17
- https://docs.geonetwork-opensource.org/4.4/overview/change-log/version-4.4.12
- https://thehackernews.com/2026/09/geonetwork-fixes-unauthenticated-rce.html