CVE-2025-58782 is a critical deserialization vulnerability (CWE-502) affecting Apache Jackrabbit Core and Apache Jackrabbit JCR Commons versions from 1.0.0 through 2.22.1. Apache Jackrabbit is an open-source content repository for the Java platform, widely used for content management systems and applications requiring hierarchical content storage. The vulnerability arises from the unsafe deserialization of untrusted data when JNDI (Java Naming and Directory Interface) URIs are accepted for JCR (Java Content Repository) lookup from untrusted users. Attackers can exploit this by injecting malicious JNDI references, which, when deserialized by the vulnerable system, can lead to arbitrary code execution. This means an attacker could execute code remotely on the affected server, potentially gaining full control over the system. The root cause is the unsafe handling of serialized objects during JCR lookup via JNDI, which is enabled by default in affected versions. The Apache Software Foundation addressed this issue in version 2.22.2 by disabling JCR lookup through JNDI by default, requiring explicit enabling and urging users to carefully review their use of JNDI URIs. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the potential impact is severe given the nature of arbitrary code execution vulnerabilities in server-side components.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for those relying on Apache Jackrabbit Core in their content management systems, digital asset management, or other enterprise applications. Successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, data breaches, unauthorized data manipulation, and disruption of critical services. Given the widespread use of Java-based content repositories in sectors such as government, finance, healthcare, and media across Europe, the impact could extend to sensitive personal data exposure and operational disruptions. Additionally, the ability to execute arbitrary code remotely could facilitate lateral movement within networks, enabling attackers to escalate privileges and compromise additional systems. The lack of authentication requirements for exploitation (if JNDI URIs are accepted from untrusted sources) increases the threat level. Organizations with internet-facing services or those that allow external users to submit JNDI URIs are particularly vulnerable. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the severity of the vulnerability demands immediate attention.

1. Immediate upgrade to Apache Jackrabbit Core and JCR Commons version 2.22.2 or later, where JNDI lookup is disabled by default. 2. If JNDI lookup functionality is required, explicitly enable it only after thorough security review and restrict the sources of JNDI URIs to trusted entities. 3. Implement strict input validation and sanitization for any user-supplied JNDI URIs to prevent injection of malicious references. 4. Employ network-level controls such as firewall rules and segmentation to limit outbound connections from the application server to only trusted JNDI servers or directories. 5. Monitor application logs for unusual JNDI lookup requests or deserialization errors that could indicate exploitation attempts. 6. Conduct code audits and penetration testing focused on deserialization and JNDI usage to identify and remediate insecure coding practices. 7. Apply runtime application self-protection (RASP) or use security agents capable of detecting and blocking unsafe deserialization activities. 8. Educate development and operations teams about the risks of deserialization vulnerabilities and secure coding practices related to JNDI and object deserialization.