CVE-2026-42555: Valtimo has SpEL injection via StandardEvaluationContext that allows Remote Code Execution by admin users

Should you act?

Critical, preconditions apply

Severe if exploited, but exploitation needs conditions that may not apply to you. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.

• No confirmed exploitation. It is not in CISA’s KEV catalog and CISA’s SSVC assessment records no known exploitation. That can change quickly after a public write-up; re-check if you are affected.
• EPSS 0.8%, percentile 57: FIRST’s model estimates a 0.8% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 57% of all scored CVEs (moderate). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
• Needs an account (high (admin)). Exposure depends on who can log in.
• Only applies if your dependency tree includes com.ritense.valtimo:document (Maven) >= 12.0.0, < 12.32.0, fixed in 12.32.0; com.ritense.valtimo:case (Maven) >= 13.0.0, < 13.23.0, fixed in 13.23.0; com.ritense.valtimo:contract (Maven) >= 13.4.0, < 13.23.0, fixed in 13.23.0. Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

What it is

Valtimo is an open-source business process automation platform. com.ritense.valtimo:document from 12.0.0 to before 12.32.0, com.ritense.valtimo:case from 13.0.0 to before 13.23.0, and com.ritense.valtimo:contract from 13.4.0 to before 13.23.0 evaluate Spring Expression Language (SpEL) expressions from user-supplied input using StandardEvaluationContext, which provides unrestricted access to Java types and methods. An authenticated user with the ADMIN role can achieve Remote Code Execution and credential exfiltration. This vulnerability is fixed in com.ritense.valtimo:document 2.32.0, com.ritense.valtimo:case 13.23.0, and com.ritense.valtimo:contract 13.23.0.

From the GitHub advisory

Summary

Multiple classes evaluate Spring Expression Language (SpEL) expressions from user-supplied input using StandardEvaluationContext, which provides unrestricted access to Java types and methods. An authenticated user with the ADMIN role can achieve Remote Code Execution and credential exfiltration.

Impact

An attacker with ADMIN credentials can: - Execute arbitrary OS commands via T(java.lang.Runtime).getRuntime().exec('...') - Exfiltrate all environment variables (database passwords, API keys, Keycloak secrets) via T(java.lang.System).getenv() - Read JVM system properties via T(java.lang.System).getProperties() - Load arbitrary classes via T(java.lang.Class).forName('...')

Affected Components

Weakness type: CWE-94.

Product: com.ritense.valtimo:document (Maven) · Assigned by: GitHub_M · Published: 2026-05-14

Affected and fixed versions

Severity scores

• Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
• Attack complexity: low
• Privileges required: high (admin)
• User interaction: none
• Scope: changed (can affect other components)

CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.

Exploitation and urgency

• CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
• CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
• FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 0.82% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 57.

Timeline

• 2026-05-06 — GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-j7j9-5253-f7vh published (critical)
• 2026-05-14 — CVE record last updated
• 2026-05-14 — CVE record published by GitHub_M

Sources and references

Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.

Vulnerability records

1. GitHub Advisory GHSA-j7j9-5253-f7vh github.com
2. CVE.org record CVE-2026-42555 cve.org
3. NVD entry CVE-2026-42555 nvd.nist.gov

Other references from the CVE record and advisory

1. github.com github.com

Critical Maven advisories · Today’s Security Digest