CVE-2026-27830 swaldman CVE debrief

Who should care

Developers and administrators using the c3p0 JDBC connection pooling library, particularly those using versions prior to 0.12.0, should be aware of this vulnerability and take steps to mitigate it. This includes updating to version 0.12.0 or later and ensuring that mchange-commons-java is updated to version 0.4.0 or later. Additionally, users of Red Hat products may need to apply errata to affected systems.

Technical summary

The c3p0 library, used for JDBC connection pooling, had a property called `userOverridesAsString` that was previously stored as a hex-encoded serialized Java object. This allowed attackers to inject malicious Java objects, potentially leading to code execution. The issue was compounded by vulnerabilities in mchange-commons-java, a dependency of c3p0, which allowed for remote code execution via JNDI references. The vulnerability has been addressed by changing the format of `userOverridesAsString` to a safer CSV-based format and by restricting remote `factoryClassLocation` values in mchange-commons-java.

Defensive priority

High priority should be given to updating c3p0 to version 0.12.0 or later and ensuring that mchange-commons-java is updated to version 0.4.0 or later. Additionally, administrators should review their systems for any signs of compromise and apply errata to affected Red Hat systems.

Recommended defensive actions

• Update c3p0 to version 0.12.0 or later
• Update mchange-commons-java to version 0.4.0 or later
• Review systems for signs of compromise
• Apply errata to affected Red Hat systems
• Monitor for suspicious activity

Evidence notes

The CVE record and NVD detail provide information on the vulnerability and its mitigation. Additional sources, including GitHub advisories and Red Hat errata, offer further context and guidance on addressing the issue.

Official resources