James ServerApplication · Apache
CVE-2017-12628
Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.
NVD · uneditedThe JMX server embedded in Apache James, also used by the command line client is exposed to a java de-serialization issue, and thus can be used to execute arbitrary commands. As James exposes JMX socket by default only on local-host, this vulnerability can only be used for privilege escalation. Release 3.0.1 upgrades the incriminated library.
Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.
dbcve analysis · high confidenceApache James server contains a vulnerable JMX component with a java deserialization flaw that allows arbitrary command execution. Since JMX binds to localhost only by default, the attack vector is limited to privilege escalation from local access.
Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.
Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.
NVD · CPE data
James ServerApplication
<= 3.0.0CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.
From the vector- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.
dbcve checksWork through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.
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Identify if Apache James is installedLook for Apache James installation directories (e.g., /var/lib/james, /opt/james, or the james-server-app-*.jar file in the system). Check running processes for 'james' or 'apache-james' keywords.Affected if Apache James server is present on the system
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Determine the Apache James versionCheck the version file in the James installation directory (e.g., version.info, or examine the jar filename which typically contains the version like james-server-app-3.0.0.jar). Also check pom.xml if source is available.Affected if Version is 3.0.0 or lower (any version <= 3.0.0)
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Verify JMX component is enabledExamine the James configuration files (typically in conf/ directory) for JMX settings. Look for jmx.properties, jmxremote configuration, or JMX-related XML configuration. By default, JMX binds to localhost.Affected if JMX is configured and active (default binding is localhost)
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Check JMX network bindingReview the JMX configuration for the bind address. Default behavior binds to localhost only. Check for any configuration that exposes JMX to non-localhost interfaces.Affected if JMX is bound to localhost or exposed to network interfaces
A system is affected if Apache James Server version 3.0.0 or lower is installed with JMX enabled and accessible.
Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.
Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.
From vendor dataUpgrade Apache James to version 3.0.1 which includes the upgraded library fix for the deserialization vulnerability.
Fix this in James Server
Scoped from the published advisory
- Consultation4.0 h
- Implementation4.0 h
- Testing8.0 h
- Review / QA4.0 h
An estimate, not a bill — we confirm scope with you before any work starts. Need it this week? Rush from $5,504.
Scan for this in your stack
Free · runs locallyCheck whether your project pulls in CVE-2017-12628 — or any other known-vulnerable package — straight from your lock files. Free and open source; it runs locally and uploads nothing.
References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.
Primary sourcesPractitioner notes
ContributedPeer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2017-12628 in production — separate from our analysis above.
The advisory tells you what broke. It rarely tells you what actually worked. If you’ve dealt with this one, that detail is what the next engineer is searching for.
- The version that genuinely resolved it — not the one the vendor claimed
- A config change or rule that shut the vector down
- A gotcha in the upgrade path that cost you an afternoon
No notes yet
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- Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
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