diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk/lib/init-templates/app/java/pom.xml b/packages/aws-cdk/lib/init-templates/app/java/pom.xml
index e362c878770f6..0b6306c3d8c54 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk/lib/init-templates/app/java/pom.xml
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk/lib/init-templates/app/java/pom.xml
@@ -19,17 +19,16 @@
             <plugin>
                 <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
                 <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
-                <version>3.8.1</version>
+                <version>3.11.0</version>
                 <configuration>
-                    <source>1.8</source>
-                    <target>1.8</target>
+                    <release>17</release>
                 </configuration>
             </plugin>
 
             <plugin>
                 <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
                 <artifactId>exec-maven-plugin</artifactId>
-                <version>3.0.0</version>
+                <version>3.1.0</version>
                 <configuration>
                     <mainClass>com.myorg.%name.PascalCased%App</mainClass>
                 </configuration>
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk/lib/init-templates/sample-app/java/pom.xml b/packages/aws-cdk/lib/init-templates/sample-app/java/pom.xml
index 1418d994e172f..877369a3c79ca 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk/lib/init-templates/sample-app/java/pom.xml
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk/lib/init-templates/sample-app/java/pom.xml
@@ -16,16 +16,16 @@
             <plugin>
                 <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
                 <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
-                <version>3.8.1</version>
+                <version>3.11.0</version>
                 <configuration>
-                    <source>1.8</source>
-                    <target>1.8</target>
+                    <release>17</release>
                 </configuration>
             </plugin>
+
             <plugin>
                 <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
                 <artifactId>exec-maven-plugin</artifactId>
-                <version>3.0.0</version>
+                <version>3.1.0</version>
                 <configuration>
                     <mainClass>com.myorg.%name.PascalCased%App</mainClass>
                 </configuration>