CVE-2026-54518 is a medium-severity incorrect authorization vulnerability in com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind (maven), affecting versions >= 2.21.0, < 2.21.4. It is fixed in 2.21.4, 3.1.4.
Summary UnwrappedPropertyHandler.processUnwrappedCreatorProperties() replays buffered JSON into creator parameters but never consults prop.visibleInView(activeView). The normal property-based creator path gates creator properties on the active view, but this unwrapped-creator replay path bypasses that check, so a constructor parameter annotated with both @JsonView(AdminView.class) and @JsonUnwrapped is populated from attacker JSON even when a more restrictive view is active. Impact View-restricted unwrapped creator parameters can be set from untrusted input where @JsonView is used as a write-side authorization boundary. Affected / Patched (verified via git tag --contains) 2.21 line: >= 2.21.0, < 2.21.4 -> fixed in 2.21.4 (backport 721fa07, #5973) 3.x line: >= 3.0.0, < 3.1.4 -> fixed in 3.1.4 (#5971, d633bc0) Severity / CWE Maintainer: minor. Reporter: HIGH. CWE-863 (Incorrect Authorization); related CWE-284. Credits Omkhar Arasaratnam (@omkhar) - finder.
The application does not correctly enforce access controls, allowing a principal to access resources or operations beyond their granted permissions. Typical impact: unauthorized data access or execution of privileged operations.
CVE-2026-54518 has a CVSS score of 6.5 (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 (2.21.4, 3.1.4). Upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.
maven
com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind (>= 2.21.0, < 2.21.4)tools.jackson.core:jackson-databind (>= 3.0.0, < 3.1.4)com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind → 2.21.4 (maven)tools.jackson.core:jackson-databind → 3.1.4 (maven)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 instead of chasing every advisory.
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Already deployed Kodem? See CVE-2026-54518 in your environment →Upgrade the following packages to resolve this vulnerability:
com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind to 2.21.4 or latertools.jackson.core:jackson-databind to 3.1.4 or laterKodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.
CVE-2026-54518 is a medium-severity incorrect authorization vulnerability in com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind (maven), affecting versions >= 2.21.0, < 2.21.4. It is fixed in 2.21.4, 3.1.4. The application does not correctly enforce access controls, allowing a principal to access resources or operations beyond their granted permissions.
CVE-2026-54518 has a CVSS score of 6.5 (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.
com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind (maven) (versions >= 2.21.0, < 2.21.4)tools.jackson.core:jackson-databind (maven) (versions >= 3.0.0, < 3.1.4)Yes. CVE-2026-54518 is fixed in 2.21.4, 3.1.4. Upgrade to this version or later.
Whether CVE-2026-54518 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
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.
com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind to 2.21.4 or latertools.jackson.core:jackson-databind to 3.1.4 or later