CVE-2025-5878: esapi esapi-java-legacy Improper Input Validation

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2025-5878 is a high (CVSS 7.5) Improper Input Validation vulnerability in esapi esapi-java-legacy. EPSS estimates a 0.50% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 41.3% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 29-06-2025
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 03-11-2025
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

A vulnerability was found in ESAPI esapi-java-legacy and classified as problematic. This issue affects the interface Encoder.encodeForSQL of the SQL Injection Defense. An attack leads to an improper neutralization of special elements. The attack may be initiated remotely and an exploit has been disclosed to the public. The project was contacted early about this issue and handled it with an exceptional level of professionalism. Upgrading to version 2.7.0.0 is able to address this issue. Commit ID f75ac2c2647a81d2cfbdc9c899f8719c240ed512 is disabling the feature by default and any attempt to use it will trigger a warning. And commit ID e2322914304d9b1c52523ff24be495b7832f6a56 is updating the misleading Java class documentation to warn about the risks.

• CWE-20Improper Input ValidationThe product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.
• CWE-138Improper Neutralization of Special ElementsThe product receives input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could be interpreted as control elements or syntactic markers when they are sent to a downstream component.