Apache Cassandra: unrestricted deserialization of JMX authentication credentials

Description

In Apache Cassandra it is possible for a local attacker without access to the Apache Cassandra process or configuration files to manipulate the RMI registry to perform a man-in-the-middle attack and capture user names and passwords used to access the JMX interface. The attacker can then use these credentials to access the JMX interface and perform unauthorized operations.

This is same vulnerability that CVE-2020-13946 was issued for, but the Java option was changed in JDK10.

This issue affects Apache Cassandra from 4.0.2 through 5.0.2 running Java 11.

Operators are recommended to upgrade to a release equal to or later than 4.0.15, 4.1.8, or 5.0.3 which fixes the issue.

Basic information

Type
reviewed
Severity
medium
Advisory on GitHub
Open advisory ↗
Repository advisory
Source code
Browse source ↗
Published (advisory)
2025-02-04 12:30:59 UTC
Updated
2025-02-18 22:31:38 UTC
GitHub reviewed
2025-02-04 18:39:25 UTC
NVD published
2025-02-04

EPSS Score

Score Percentile
0.10% 28.60%

CVSS Scores

Base score Version Severity Vector
5.9 3.1
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N 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:H)
Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work.
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:N)
Data isn’t meaningfully altered or forged.
Availability (A:N)
Service keeps running; no real outage angle.

Identifiers

CWEs

CWE id Name
CWE-668 Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere

Affected packages (3)

Vulnerable version ranges and first patched releases as published by GitHub.

Ecosystem Package Vulnerable range First patched Vulnerable functions
maven org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all >= 5.0-beta1, < 5.0.3 5.0.3
maven org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all >= 4.1.0, < 4.1.8 4.1.8
maven org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all >= 4.0.2, < 4.0.15 4.0.15

References

cvelogic Threat Intelligence