CVE-2025-11226: ACE vulnerability in conditional configuration file processing by QOS.CH logback-core up to and including version 1.5.18 in Java applications, allows an attack

ACE vulnerability in conditional configuration file processing by QOS.CH logback-core up to and including version 1.5.18 in Java applications, allows an attack

ACE vulnerability in conditional configuration file processing by QOS.CH logback-core up to and including version 1.5.18 in Java applications, allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code by compromising an existing logback configuration file or by injecting an environment variable before program execution. A successful attack requires the presence of Janino library and Spring Framework to be present on the user's class path. In addition, the attacker must have write access to a configuration file. Alternatively, the attacker could inject a malicious environment variable pointing to a malicious configuration file. In both cases, the attack requires existing privilege.

Description from the National Vulnerability Database, published by vulnerability@ncsc.ch

What it means for a small business

If your business uses Logback-core, install the vendor's update. If you're not sure whether you use it, ask whoever manages your computers.

How likely is an attack? The Exploit Prediction Scoring System, run by FIRST (the global association of security response teams), puts the odds of this one being exploited in the next 30 days at 0.19%, higher than 9% of CVEs. That’s low, but low isn’t zero, and the odds jump the day someone publishes an exploit. Scored October 29, 2026, updated daily.

Check your own setup

Website check: reads what your site runs from the outside (WordPress version, plugins it can see, old server software) and matches it against this database.
Server check: what your web server says about itself, and whether that version has known flaws.

Sources

Part of the Huttenlocher Technologies vulnerability database, refreshed twice a day from CISA and the NVD. The title, category and plain-language guidance are ours; check the linked record before acting on a detail. This is general guidance, not a review of your systems.

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