Summary
JSPUI's "Internal System Error" page prints exceptions and stack traces without sanitization
Apply the patch to your DSpace
If at all possible, we recommend upgrading your DSpace site based on the upgrade instructions. However, if you are unable to do so, you can manually apply the above patches as follows:
- Download the appropriate patch file to the machine where DSpace is running
- From the
[dspace-src]folder, apply the patch, e.g.git apply [name-of-file].patch - Now, update your DSpace site (based loosely on the Upgrade instructions). This generally involves three steps:
- Rebuild DSpace, e.g.
mvn -U clean package(This will recompile all DSpace code) - Redeploy DSpace, e.g.
ant update(This will copy all updated WARs / configs to your installation directory). Depending on your setup you also may need to copy the updated WARs over to your Tomcat webapps folder. - Restart Tomcat
- Rebuild DSpace, e.g.
Workarounds
The detailed error information embedded in internal.jsp is not necessary for the JSPUI to function. Because this error information is also available in the dspace.log files, it does not need to be displayed in internal.jsp.
Modify your internal.jsp, and disable the display of the error message. This is most easily done by setting the returned exception to "null" at all times. For example, add a new line between line number 43 and 44
// This line should exist around line number 43
Throwable ex = (Throwable) request.getAttribute("javax.servlet.error.exception");
// Add workaround for security issue. Ensure exception is always set to null.
ex = null;
// This line should exist around line number 44
if(ex == null) out.println("No stack trace available<br/>");
References
Discovered & reported by Ozkan Erdogan (Brunel University London)
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:
- Email us at [email protected]
Impact
When an "Internal System Error" occurs in the JSPUI, then entire exception (including stack trace) is available. Information in this stacktrace may be useful to an attacker in launching a more sophisticated attack. This vulnerability only impacts the JSPUI.
This vulnerability does NOT impact the XMLUI or 7.x.
CVE-2022-31189 has a CVSS score of 5.3 (Medium). The vector is network-reachable, no 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. A fixed version is available (6.4); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
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. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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See it in your environmentNew to Kodem? Get a demo →Remediation advice
DSpace 6.x:
- Fixed in 6.4 via commit: https://github.com/DSpace/DSpace/commit/afcc6c3389729b85d5c7b0230cbf9aaf7452f31a
- 6.x patch file: https://github.com/DSpace/DSpace/commit/afcc6c3389729b85d5c7b0230cbf9aaf7452f31a.patch (may be applied manually if an immediate upgrade to 6.4 or above is not possible)
DSpace 5.x:
- The 6.x patch file can also be applied to an older 5.x installation.
- Alternatively, you can simply apply the workaround documented below. The detailed error information embedded in
internal.jspis not necessary for the JSPUI to function.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2022-31189? CVE-2022-31189 is a medium-severity security vulnerability in org.dspace:dspace-jspui (maven), affecting versions >= 4.0, <= 6.3. It is fixed in 6.4.
- How severe is CVE-2022-31189? CVE-2022-31189 has a CVSS score of 5.3 (Medium). 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.
- Which versions of org.dspace:dspace-jspui are affected by CVE-2022-31189? org.dspace:dspace-jspui (maven) versions >= 4.0, <= 6.3 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2022-31189? Yes. CVE-2022-31189 is fixed in 6.4. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2022-31189 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2022-31189 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
- What actually determines whether CVE-2022-31189 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.
- How do I fix CVE-2022-31189? Upgrade
org.dspace:dspace-jspuito 6.4 or later.