CVE-2020-7961
KEVLiferay Portal Deserialization of Untrusted Data Vulnerability
Description
Liferay Portal contains a deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability that allows remote attackers to execute code via JSON web services.
Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Liferay Portal prior to 7.2.1 CE GA2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via JSON web services (JSONWS).
CVSS 3.1 vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HPublishedMar 20, 2020
Last modifiedJun 17, 2026
Added to KEVNov 3, 2021
Remediation dueMay 3, 2022
References
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/157254/Liferay-Portal-Java-Unmarshalling-Remote-Code-Execution.htmlThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/158392/Liferay-Portal-Remote-Code-Execution.htmlThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- portal.liferay.dev/learn/security/known-vulnerabilitiesBroken LinkVendor Advisory
- portal.liferay.dev/learn/security/known-vulnerabilities/-/asset_publisher/HbL5mxmVrnXW/content/id/117954271Broken LinkVendor Advisory
- research.checkpoint.com/2021/freakout-leveraging-newest-vulnerabilities-for-creating-a-botnet/ExploitThird Party Advisory
- cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-7961US Government Resource
0 recent articles mention this CVE
89
Risk assessment · Critical
Actively exploited. Patch immediately.
- Exploitation
- Confirmed in the wild (CISA KEV)
- Federal remediation deadline
- Overdue by 1637 days
- CVSS
- 9.8 CRITICAL
- EPSS (30-day exploit probability)
- 99.9% · top 1% of all CVEs
- Weakness
- CWE-502
- Attack vector
- Network, remotely reachable
- Preconditions
- No privileges and no user interaction
Recommended actions
- 1.Apply updates per vendor instructions.
- 2.Treat as emergency change: patch or isolate internet-facing instances first.
- 3.Review exposure: confirm which instances are reachable from the internet and restrict access until patched.
- 4.Hunt for compromise: review logs for the disclosure window, not just from the patch date.
Assessment is derived automatically from the live signals above; verify against your own asset inventory.