CVE-2016-15057

UNSUPPORTED WHEN ASSIGNED

Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection') vulnerability in Apache Continuum.

This issue affects Apache Continuum: all versions.

Attackers with access to the Installations REST API can use this to invoke arbitrary commands on the server.

As this project is retired, we do not plan to release a version that fixes this issue. Users are recommended to find an alternative or restrict access to the instance to trusted users.

NOTE: This vulnerability only affects products that are no longer supported by the maintainer.

Untrusted input is inserted into a command that is later executed by the application, allowing the attacker to alter the intent of that command. Typical impact: arbitrary command execution in the application's environment.

CVE-2016-15057 has a CVSS score of 9.9 (Critical). The vector is network-reachable, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. No fixed version is listed yet, so configuration controls and monitoring matter more in the interim.

Kodem intelligence

1. What is CVE-2016-15057? CVE-2016-15057 is a critical-severity command injection vulnerability in org.apache.continuum:continuum (maven), affecting versions <= 1.4.2. No fixed version is listed yet. Untrusted input is inserted into a command that is later executed by the application, allowing the attacker to alter the intent of that command.
2. How severe is CVE-2016-15057? CVE-2016-15057 has a CVSS score of 9.9 (Critical). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
3. Which versions of org.apache.continuum:continuum are affected by CVE-2016-15057? org.apache.continuum:continuum (maven) versions <= 1.4.2 is affected.
4. Is there a fix for CVE-2016-15057? No fixed version is listed for CVE-2016-15057 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.
5. Is CVE-2016-15057 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2016-15057 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
6. What actually determines whether CVE-2016-15057 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
7. How do I fix CVE-2016-15057? No fixed version is listed yet. In the interim: Avoid constructing commands from untrusted input. Use parameterized APIs that separate the command from its arguments.