`CVE-2022-23457` OWASP Enterprise Security API

Affected software	OWASP Enterprise Security API
Severity	9.8 Critical CVSS 3.1 3 scores
Fixed in	`2.3.0.0`
Weakness	Path traversal (CWE-22)
Published	25 Apr 2022
Updated	13 Nov 2026

Description

ESAPI (The OWASP Enterprise Security API) is a free, open source, web application security control library. Prior to version 2.3.0.0, the default implementation of Validator.getValidDirectoryPath(String, String, File, boolean) may incorrectly treat the tested input string as a child of the specified parent directory. This potentially could allow control-flow bypass checks to be defeated if an attack can specify the entire string representing the 'input' path. This vulnerability is patched in release 2.3.0.0 of ESAPI. As a workaround, it is possible to write one's own implementation of the Validator interface. However, maintainers do not recommend this.

Exploitation status

Proof of concept only

A proof of concept exists, but no reviewed exploit catalogue lists this CVE.

CISA KEV not listed
VulnCheck KEV not listed
CISA Vulnrichment exploitation: poc CISA recorded that an exploit has been demonstrated. Automatable: no, technical impact: total.
Indexed PoC none indexed
EPSS 2.8% chance in 30 days

Waratek protection

Protected by Waratek

Waratek has a rule that blocks attacks on this vulnerability.

Protection full Path traversal, Filesystem
Action available security rule
Review human Researcher
Record active

Decided by	A researcher's recorded decision for this specific CVE
Finding	A researcher found this CVE protected by the ARMR filesystem path traversal.

Decided by

A researcher's recorded decision for this specific CVE

Finding

A researcher found this CVE protected by the ARMR filesystem path traversal.

Waratek research note

written 2026-11-13

Written by a Waratek engineer who reviewed this CVE. Their decision sets the status above, ahead of every automated rule except a withdrawal.

Comments

Rule Name: ARMR filesystem path traversal

How to mitigate CVE-2022-23457

Upgrade OWASP Enterprise Security API to 2.3.0.0 or later. Until you can, Waratek RASP blocks exploitation with its path traversal and filesystem rules. It runs inside the Java application, with no code changes.

Waratek RASP Runtime protection for Java applications

CVSS

9.8 CRITICAL v3.1 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H 3 metrics

We show the highest score from the newest CVSS version. Scores from different versions can't be compared, and the first score listed is sometimes a 0.0 placeholder.

Version Score Band Vector Assigner Type

CVSS 3.1 9.8 CRITICAL CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H NVD Primary published

CVSS 3.1 7.5 HIGH CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H security-advisories@github.com Secondary

CVSS 2.0 7.5 none AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P NVD Primary

Version	Score	Band	Vector	Assigner	Type
CVSS 3.1	9.8	CRITICAL	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`	NVD	Primary	published
CVSS 3.1	7.5	HIGH	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`	security-advisories@github.com	Secondary
CVSS 2.0	7.5	none	`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`	NVD	Primary

Affected software and releases

Oracle advisories

Advisory	Type	Quarter	Products Oracle names in its risk matrix
Oracle Critical Patch Update July 2023 ↗	CPU	2023-Q3	Oracle Analytics / Security (Enterprise Security API) (6.4.0.0.0)
Oracle Critical Patch Update April 2023 ↗	CPU	2023-Q2	Oracle GoldenGate / GoldenGate Studio (Enterprise Security API) (Fusion Middleware: 12.2.1.4.0)
Oracle Critical Patch Update January 2023 ↗	CPU	2023-Q1	Oracle Fusion Middleware / Third Party Patch (Enterprise Security API) (12.2.1.4.0) Oracle Health Sciences Applications / Core (Enterprise Security API) (9.1.0.52, 9.2.0.52)
Oracle Critical Patch Update October 2022 ↗	CPU	2022-Q4	Oracle Construction and Engineering / User Interface (Enterprise Security API) (18.8, 19.12, 20.12, 21.12) Oracle Financial Services Applications / Others (Enterprise Security API) (8.0.7.0-8.1.0.0, 8.1.1.0, 8.1.2.0, 8.1.2.1)
Oracle Critical Patch Update July 2022 ↗	CPU	2022-Q3	Oracle Fusion Middleware / Centralized Third Party Jars (OWASP Enterprise Security API) (12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0, 14.1.1.0.0)

Advisory

Type

Quarter

Products Oracle names in its risk matrix

Oracle Critical Patch Update July 2023 ↗

CPU

2023-Q3

Oracle Analytics / Security (Enterprise Security API) (6.4.0.0.0)

Oracle Critical Patch Update April 2023 ↗

CPU

2023-Q2

Oracle GoldenGate / GoldenGate Studio (Enterprise Security API) (Fusion Middleware: 12.2.1.4.0)

Oracle Critical Patch Update January 2023 ↗

CPU

2023-Q1

Oracle Fusion Middleware / Third Party Patch (Enterprise Security API) (12.2.1.4.0)
Oracle Health Sciences Applications / Core (Enterprise Security API) (9.1.0.52, 9.2.0.52)

Oracle Critical Patch Update October 2022 ↗

CPU

2022-Q4

Oracle Construction and Engineering / User Interface (Enterprise Security API) (18.8, 19.12, 20.12, 21.12)
Oracle Financial Services Applications / Others (Enterprise Security API) (8.0.7.0-8.1.0.0, 8.1.1.0, 8.1.2.0, 8.1.2.1)

Oracle Critical Patch Update July 2022 ↗

CPU

2022-Q3

Oracle Fusion Middleware / Centralized Third Party Jars (OWASP Enterprise Security API) (12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0, 14.1.1.0.0)

Oracle components and versions

Family	Component	Versions, as Oracle lists them	Read as
Oracle Analytics	Security (Enterprise Security API)	6.4.0.0.0	6.4.0.0.0
Oracle Construction and Engineering	User Interface (Enterprise Security API)	18.8, 19.12, 20.12, 21.12	18.8 · 19.12 · 20.12 · 21.12
Oracle Financial Services Applications	Others (Enterprise Security API)	8.0.7.0-8.1.0.0, 8.1.1.0, 8.1.2.0, 8.1.2.1	8.1.1.0 · 8.1.2.0 · 8.1.2.1
Oracle Fusion Middleware	Centralized Third Party Jars (OWASP Enterprise Security API)	12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0, 14.1.1.0.0	12.2.1.3.0 · 12.2.1.4.0 · 14.1.1.0.0
Oracle Fusion Middleware	Third Party Patch (Enterprise Security API)	12.2.1.4.0	12.2.1.4.0
Oracle GoldenGate	GoldenGate Studio (Enterprise Security API)	Fusion Middleware: 12.2.1.4.0	12.2.1.4.0
Oracle Health Sciences Applications	Core (Enterprise Security API)	9.1.0.52, 9.2.0.52	9.1.0.52 · 9.2.0.52

Family

Component

Versions, as Oracle lists them

Read as

Oracle Analytics

Security (Enterprise Security API)

6.4.0.0.0

Oracle Construction and Engineering

User Interface (Enterprise Security API)

18.8, 19.12, 20.12, 21.12

18.8 · 19.12 · 20.12 · 21.12

Oracle Financial Services Applications

Others (Enterprise Security API)

8.0.7.0-8.1.0.0, 8.1.1.0, 8.1.2.0, 8.1.2.1

8.1.1.0 · 8.1.2.0 · 8.1.2.1

Oracle Fusion Middleware

Centralized Third Party Jars (OWASP Enterprise Security API)

12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0, 14.1.1.0.0

12.2.1.3.0 · 12.2.1.4.0 · 14.1.1.0.0

Oracle Fusion Middleware

Third Party Patch (Enterprise Security API)

12.2.1.4.0

Oracle GoldenGate

GoldenGate Studio (Enterprise Security API)

Fusion Middleware: 12.2.1.4.0

12.2.1.4.0

Oracle Health Sciences Applications

Core (Enterprise Security API)

9.1.0.52, 9.2.0.52

9.1.0.52 · 9.2.0.52

Maven packages

Affected and fixed versions, from OSV.dev

Package Introduced Fixed Last affected

org.owasp.esapi:esapi 0 2.3.0.0 unbounded

Package	Introduced	Fixed	Last affected
`org.owasp.esapi:esapi`	0	`2.3.0.0`	unbounded

Products and versions

5 products, 7 version entries

Source	Vendor	Product	Scheme	Affected versions
nvd	netapp	active iq unified manager	generic	any version
nvd	netapp	oncommand workflow automation	generic	any version
nvd	oracle	weblogic server	generic	12.2.1.3.0 · 12.2.1.4.0 · 14.1.1.0.0
osv	org.owasp.esapi	esapi	generic	＜ 2.3.0.0
nvd	owasp	enterprise security api	generic	＜ 2.3.0.0

Source

Vendor

Product

Scheme

Affected versions

nvd

netapp

active iq unified manager

generic

any version

nvd

netapp

oncommand workflow automation

generic

any version

nvd

oracle

weblogic server

generic

12.2.1.3.0 · 12.2.1.4.0 · 14.1.1.0.0

osv

org.owasp.esapi

esapi

generic

＜ 2.3.0.0

nvd

owasp

enterprise security api

generic

＜ 2.3.0.0

References

URL	Tags
https://github.com/ESAPI/esapi-java-legacy/security/advisories/GHSA-8m5h-hrqm-pxm2	WEB
https://github.com/ESAPI/esapi-java-legacy/commit/a0d67b75593878b1b6e39e2acc1773b3effedb2a	WEB
https://github.com/ESAPI/esapi-java-legacy	PACKAGE
https://github.com/ESAPI/esapi-java-legacy/blob/develop/documentation/GHSL-2022-008_The_OWASP_Enterprise_Security_API.md	WEB
https://github.com/ESAPI/esapi-java-legacy/blob/develop/documentation/esapi4java-core-2.3.0.0-release-notes.txt	WEB
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/07/msg00010.html	WEB
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230127-0014	WEB
https://securitylab.github.com/advisories/GHSL-2022-008_The_OWASP_Enterprise_Security_API	ADVISORY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html	WEB
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230127-0014/	Third Party Advisory

URL

Timeline

Published	2022-04-25	By the CVE Program.
NVD record modified	2026-06-17	NVD's own last-modified date for this record.
Classification created	2026-11-13	First commit adding this CVE's research note.
Last VRT activity	2026-11-13	Most recent commit touching this CVE's classification, patch or rule file.

Published

2022-04-25

By the CVE Program.

NVD record modified

2026-06-17

NVD's own last-modified date for this record.

Classification created

2026-11-13

First commit adding this CVE's research note.

Last VRT activity

2026-11-13

Most recent commit touching this CVE's classification, patch or rule file.

How VRT decided (4 of 24 rules ran)

4 of 24 rules ran. The rest didn't run because an earlier rule had already settled the CVE.

# Rule Outcome Status Detail

identity: Does this identifier describe a vulnerability at all? the first rule that matches decides

1 rejected no match CVE Program withdrawal of this identifier

scope: Is it a vulnerability Waratek protects? the first rule that matches decides

2 armr-patch-file no match An ARMR patch file on disk for this CVE

3 armr-secure-rule-file no match An ARMR security-rule template on disk for this CVE

4 manual-classification decided it matched Protected by Waratek A researcher found this CVE protected by the ARMR filesystem path traversal.

5 manual classification not reached Manual classification of this CVE in the legacy dataset

6 non-java-upstream not reached A root cause in non-Java code: an OS kernel, a C library, or a bundled runtime

7 oracle-component not reached The defect being in a component of a tracked product the agent does not reach: JavaFX, the Java SE installer, the JInitiator browser plug-in, the native WebLogic proxy plug-in, or a native part of Oracle Application Server or Collaboration Suite (HTTP Server, Web Cache, Internet Directory, mail and calendar servers). Oracle gives these no CPE of their own and names them only in the description.

8 java-client-side not reached Oracle's own risk-matrix note saying the CVE is reached only through untrusted code in the Java sandbox (applets, Web Start) or only through a client installation of Java, so a server running its own trusted code is not exposed

9 osv-maven not reached An OSV.dev record of this CVE affecting a package published to Maven Central. When every such package is one business applications do not use (Minecraft mods and launchers, Fastjson) and no tracked product is named by CPE, it settles the CVE as Outside Waratek scope instead

10 cna-maven-package not reached An affected Maven artifact named by the CNA itself

11 known-cpe-product not reached An NVD CPE naming a product ARMR tracks

12 cna-cpe-product not reached A CPE the CNA published naming a tracked product. Oracle publishes these on advisory day, months before NVD.

13 oracle-advisory-family not reached A tracked product family named in Oracle's own risk matrix. CPE cannot carry a suite name, only a module.

14 cna-named-product not reached A tracked product named in words by the CVE's own CNA, on a record with no CPE yet. Apache and Eclipse publish these on advisory day, before NVD adds CPE data.

15 non-deployable-product not reached The only affected product being a sealed appliance image, where Java runs but no -javaagent can be attached

16 unmatched-product not reached No tracked product matched above, and none present at all

disposition: What do we do about one that is? every rule runs

17 patch-hint not reached A reference pointing at the upstream fix: a commit, a PR, a Red Hat bug

18 open-source-maven not reached The affected package being open source on Maven, so the fix can be read

19 poc-derivable not reached An indexed exploit clearing the evidence bar to reverse-engineer, where there is no source to read

20 no-exploit not reached Nothing to build a rule from yet: no published exploit, no CISA record of exploitation and no source-level change to read

21 secure-rule-match not reached A vulnerability class already blocked by an ARMR security rule

22 exploited-no-fix-or-poc not reached Somebody exploiting this CVE (a CISA or VulnCheck KEV listing, or a CISA verdict of active exploitation), with no fix, source code or PoC to build a rule from

23 below-action-threshold not reached Medium or Low severity, no CISA or VulnCheck KEV listing, no PoC clearing the evidence bar, no CISA verdict, no Oracle advisory

24 no-exploit-published not reached Exploit code for this candidate, published in a reviewed catalogue or a GitHub repository with 5 or more stars, or in use per CISA or VulnCheck; not only a CISA verdict, a forecast, or nothing at all

NVD ↗ · CVE.org ↗