GeoNetwork vulnerable to Remote Code Execution via unsafe Saxon XSLT processor configuration in formatter
CVE-2026-58400
GeoNetwork is a catalog application to manage spatially referenced resources. Prior to versions 4.4.12 and 4.2.17, the Saxon XSLT processor used to render formatters is configured without secure processing (`FEATURE_SECURE_PROCESSING`) and without disabling Java extension functions (`ALLOW_EXTERNAL_FUNCTIONS`). Any stylesheet loaded by GeoNetwork can therefore invoke
`java.lang.Runtime.exec()` or `java.lang.ProcessBuilder` directly, achieving arbitrary command execution as the GeoNetwork process user. A user with sufficient privileges to upload a formatter can deliver a `.xsl` file containing Java extension call that execute arbitrary OS commands with the privileges of the GeoNetwork process. The issue is patched in GeoNetwork versions 4.4.12 and 4.2.17.
No Active Exploit Signals
CVSS Base Score
9.1
CRITICAL
Exploitability:2.3
Impact Score:6.1
EPSS Probability:1.19%
Executive Threat Verdict
Evaluating...
Evaluating Threat Landscape...
Assessing known weaponization, exploitation telemetry, and federal advisories.
Attack Surface
—
Authentication
—
Weaponization
—
SSVC Action
—
CISA BINDING OPERATIONAL DIRECTIVE (BOD 22-01)Mandatory Federal Remediation
Community Chatter & Buzz