$ research-item --score 65 --exploit poc

Metasploit module: Apache Commons Text RCE

Research page generated from configured evidence sources. Treat this as an analyst workbench: facts are sourced, gaps are labelled, and low-confidence chatter is separated from confirmed evidence.

Executive judgement

  • Operational lane: patch priority
  • Priority score: 65
  • Confidence: medium
  • Exploit status: poc — Public proof-of-concept signal observed; treat as elevated patch priority, but do not assume mass exploitation without corroboration.
  • Urgent publishable: yes
  • CISA KEV: No CISA KEV match captured in configured source data at generation time.
  • Published/observed: 2023-11-16
  • EPSS score: not available

What happened

A flaw was found in Apache Commons Text packages 1.5 through 1.9. The affected versions allow an attacker to benefit from a variable interpolation process contained in Apache Commons Text, which can cause properties to be dynamically defined. Server applications are vulnerable to remote code execution (RCE) and unintentional contact with untrusted remote servers.

Why it matters

  • The item was promoted because the pipeline observed: priority score 65, exploit status poc, confidence medium.
  • It has a CVE identifier, so it can be tracked across NVD/CVE.org/vendor/exploit sources.
  • Public PoC language was detected, so defensive teams should assume exploit development will accelerate.

Evidence collected

Exploitation and PoC status

  • Current automated assessment: Public proof-of-concept signal observed; treat as elevated patch priority, but do not assume mass exploitation without corroboration.
  • Public exploit/PoC: PoC signal present in configured sources; validate via research links below before taking operational claims at face value.
  • Exploited in the wild: Not confirmed by configured sources at generation time.
  • Ransomware association: No ransomware association captured at generation time.

Publication / validation flags

  • No validation flags from configured gates.

Dark web / low-confidence chatter

Defender actions

  • Inventory server apps using Apache Commons Text 1.5-1.9
  • Monitor for variable interpolation RCE attempts
  • Detect unintended outbound contacts to untrusted servers

Analyst note

Public PoCs exist but no CISA KEV listing or active signals are reported. The flaw enables RCE and untrusted server contacts via variable interpolation in listed versions. Focus on identifying affected server applications using the provided sources.

Defender / Sentinel hunting queries

MDE exposure: devices with CVE-2022-42889

Find devices where Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management reports the CVE.

DeviceTvmSoftwareVulnerabilities
| where CveId == "CVE-2022-42889"
| project DeviceName, OSPlatform, SoftwareVendor, SoftwareName, SoftwareVersion, VulnerabilitySeverityLevel, RecommendedSecurityUpdate, LastSeenTime
| order by VulnerabilitySeverityLevel desc, LastSeenTime desc

MDE endpoint behaviour hunt

General endpoint hunt for named tooling, malware, or exploit artefacts from the research item. Tune terms with vendor IOCs.

DeviceProcessEvents
| where Timestamp > ago(14d)
| where ProcessCommandLine has "Metasploit" or FileName has "Metasploit" or FolderPath has "Metasploit" or ProcessCommandLine has "module" or FileName has "module" or FolderPath has "module" or ProcessCommandLine has "Apache" or FileName has "Apache" or FolderPath has "Apache" or ProcessCommandLine has "Commons" or FileName has "Commons" or FolderPath has "Commons" or ProcessCommandLine has "Text" or FileName has "Text" or FolderPath has "Text"
| project Timestamp, DeviceName, AccountName, FileName, FolderPath, ProcessCommandLine, InitiatingProcessFileName, InitiatingProcessCommandLine
| order by Timestamp desc

MDE file artefact hunt

Hunt for suspicious files dropped or modified during exploitation of this vulnerability.

DeviceFileEvents
| where Timestamp > ago(14d)
| where FileName has "Metasploit" or FolderPath has "Metasploit" or InitiatingProcessCommandLine has "Metasploit" or FileName has "module" or FolderPath has "module" or InitiatingProcessCommandLine has "module" or FileName has "Apache" or FolderPath has "Apache" or InitiatingProcessCommandLine has "Apache" or FileName has "Commons" or FolderPath has "Commons" or InitiatingProcessCommandLine has "Commons" or FileName has "Text" or FolderPath has "Text" or InitiatingProcessCommandLine has "Text"
| project Timestamp, DeviceName, FileName, FolderPath, ActionType, InitiatingProcessFileName, InitiatingProcessCommandLine, SHA256, FileSize
| order by Timestamp desc

MDE registry persistence and tamper hunt

Hunt for suspicious registry modifications (persistence, service installs, config tampering) linked to this issue.

DeviceRegistryEvents
| where Timestamp > ago(14d)
| where RegistryKey has_any ("Run", "RunOnce", "Services", "Image File Execution", "Winlogon") or RegistryValueName has "Metasploit" or RegistryKey has "Metasploit" or PreviousRegistryValueData has "Metasploit" or RegistryValueName has "module" or RegistryKey has "module" or PreviousRegistryValueData has "module" or RegistryValueName has "Apache" or RegistryKey has "Apache" or PreviousRegistryValueData has "Apache" or RegistryValueName has "Commons" or RegistryKey has "Commons" or PreviousRegistryValueData has "Commons"
| project Timestamp, DeviceName, ActionType, RegistryKey, RegistryValueName, RegistryValueData, PreviousRegistryValueData, InitiatingProcessFileName, InitiatingProcessCommandLine
| order by Timestamp desc

Exposure validation ideas

  • Search asset inventory for affected vendor/product names and any CVE reference.
  • Check internet-facing exposure through approved tools only: Shodan/Censys/GreyNoise links below are research starting points, not proof of exposure.
  • Prioritise management interfaces, edge devices, identity/control-plane systems, and OT/ICS assets where relevant.

Detection / hunting ideas

  • Review vendor logs for authentication failures, privilege changes, unexpected admin activity, and anomalous management-plane access.
  • Search SIEM/EDR telemetry for product-specific process names, network services, and newly published indicators from primary sources.
  • Monitor for scanner traffic or nuclei/metasploit module references once public exploit tooling appears.

Open questions

  • Is there a primary vendor advisory with exact affected versions and fixed versions?
  • Has CISA KEV, Shadowserver, GreyNoise, or a trusted vendor confirmed exploitation?
  • Are there credible PoC repositories or only secondary reporting mentioning PoC?
  • Is there underground/forum/leak-site discussion, or only public reporting?

Generated: 2026-06-18T16:20:07+00:00

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