CVE-2023-33246 | Apache RocketMQ: Possible remote code execution vulnerability when using the update configuration function

Exp

For RocketMQ versions 5.1.0 and below, under certain conditions, there is a risk of remote command execution. Several components of RocketMQ, including NameServer, Broker, and Controller, are leaked on the extranet and lack permission verification, an attacker can exploit this vulnerability by using the update configuration function to execute commands as the system users that RocketMQ is running as. Additionally, an attacker can achieve the same effect by forging the RocketMQ protocol content. To prevent these attacks, users are recommended to upgrade to version 5.1.1 or above for using RocketMQ 5.x or 4.9.6 or above for using RocketMQ 4.x .

Published: 2023-05-24 Last update: 2025-10-23 Assigner: [email protected] Source: [email protected]

NVD Status：Analyzed，CVE State: published

View at NVD, CVE.org, EUVD

Threat Intelligence & Risk Assessment for CVE-2023-33246

KEV EPSS CVSS CWE GHSA Exploit-DB Affected OS Tracker

Conclusion & alert: CVE-2023-33246 is rated Critical Active Threat (99.4/100): CVSS Critical severity, with high exploitation likelihood (EPSS 94.39%, 100th percentile). Core evidence: CISA KEV confirms active exploitation (added 2023-09-06) affecting Apache / RocketMQ. a weakness (CWE-94) Unauthenticated remote administrative access may be possible. Mandatory action: The CISA remediation deadline has passed—treat as an emergency patch priority.

Risk is dynamic; we continuously reassess and refresh what is shown on this page as upstream context changes.

CISA KEV Record for CVE-2023-33246

Name: Apache RocketMQ Command Execution Vulnerability · CISA KEV detail

Exploit added: 2023-09-06

Action due: 2023-09-27

Required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

Public exploit references (Exploit-DB) for CVE-2023-33246

EDB-ID	Source	Kind	Link
—	nvd_ref	exploit_tag	Exploit-DB ↗
—	nvd_ref	exploit_tag	Exploit-DB ↗
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—	nvd_ref	exploit_tag	Exploit-DB ↗

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2023-33246

EPSS lead: Daily EPSS estimates relative likelihood of exploitation; percentile ranks this CVE among scored vulnerabilities (higher = more severe relative rank).

#	Date	Old EPSS score	New EPSS score	Delta (New - Old)
1	2025-11-21	94.14%	94.39%	+0.25%
2	2025-11-18	94.43%	94.14%	-0.29%
3	2025-04-15	—	94.43%	—

Full EPSS history (29 records total)

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2023-33246

CVSS metrics for this CVE.

Base score	Version	Severity	Vector	Exploitability	Impact	Score source
9.8	3.1	CRITICAL	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H` Click to expand Attack vector (AV:N) Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine. Attack complexity (AC:L) Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup. Privileges required (PR:N) No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough. User interaction (UI:N) Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping. Scope (S:U) Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems. Confidentiality (C:H) Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way. Integrity (I:H) They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt. Availability (A:H) Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.	3.9	5.9	[email protected]
9.8	3.1	CRITICAL	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H` Click to expand Attack vector (AV:N) Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine. Attack complexity (AC:L) Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup. Privileges required (PR:N) No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough. User interaction (UI:N) Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping. Scope (S:U) Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems. Confidentiality (C:H) Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way. Integrity (I:H) They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt. Availability (A:H) Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.	3.9	5.9	134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2023-33246

CWE-94 MITRE ↗

GitHub Security Advisory for CVE-2023-33246

GHSA-x3cq-8f32-5f63 · Severity: critical · Ecosystem: maven — Apache RocketMQ may have remote code execution vulnerability when using update configuration function

OS Trackers for CVE-2023-33246

vendor	priority	summary	link
`redhat`	critical	—	https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-33246

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2023-33246

Vendor	Product	Version	Raw CPE
apache	rocketmq	< 4.9.6	cpe:2.3:a:apache:rocketmq::::::::
apache	rocketmq	>= 5.0.0, < 5.1.1	cpe:2.3:a:apache:rocketmq::::::::

References for CVE-2023-33246

URL	Tags
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/173339/Apache-RocketMQ-5.1.0-Arbitrary-Code-Injection.html	Exploit Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/07/12/1	Mailing List Third Party Advisory
https://lists.apache.org/thread/1s8j2c8kogthtpv3060yddk03zq0pxyp	Mailing List Vendor Advisory
https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/rocketmq-rce-cve-2023-33246-33247	Exploit Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/Malayke/CVE-2023-33246_RocketMQ_RCE_EXPLOIT	Exploit
https://github.com/jakabakos/CVE-2023-33246_Apache_RocketMQ_RCE	Exploit
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-33246	Third Party Advisory US Government Resource

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