Improper Authentication in Apache ActiveMQ
Apache ActiveMQ uses LocateRegistry.createRegistry() to create the JMX RMI registry and binds the server to the "jmxrmi" entry. It is possible to connect to the registry without authentication and call the rebind method to rebind jmxrmi to something else. If an attacker creates another server to proxy the original, and bound that, he effectively becomes a man in the middle and is able to intercept the credentials when an user connects. Upgrade to Apache ActiveMQ 5.15.12.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | org.apache.activemq:activemq-parent | < 5.15.12 | 5.15.12 |
References
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-13920
- https://github.com/apache/activemq/commit/359ae4b
- https://github.com/apache/activemq/commit/48cd61d
- https://github.com/apache/activemq/commit/58382283330f7c7b110c7afd8ef4ca2648786532
- https://github.com/apache/activemq/commit/b7dca5e
- https://github.com/apache/activemq
- https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/AMQ-7400
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r946488fb942fd35c6a6e0359f52504a558ed438574a8f14d36d7dcd7%40%3Ccommits.activemq.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r946488fb942fd35c6a6e0359f52504a558ed438574a8f14d36d7dcd7@%3Ccommits.activemq.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rb2fd3bf2dce042e0ab3f3c94c4767c96bb2e7e6737624d63162df36d%40%3Ccommits.activemq.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rb2fd3bf2dce042e0ab3f3c94c4767c96bb2e7e6737624d63162df36d@%3Ccommits.activemq.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/10/msg00013.html
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/11/msg00013.html
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2020.html
- http://activemq.apache.org/security-advisories.data/CVE-2020-13920-announcement.txt
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-306- Platform
- Java / Kotlin (Maven)
- Package
org.apache.activemq:activemq-parent- Disclosed
- 09.02.2022
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 12:21
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-xgrx-xpv2-6vp4 - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: org.apache.activemq:activemq-parent
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Java / Kotlin (Maven)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 7
- First → latest
- 06.2021 05.2022
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 1
- High 1
- Medium 3
- Low 2
Disclosures per year
- 2021: 1
- 2022: 6
- 2023: 0
- 2024: 0
- 2025: 0
- 2026: 0
-
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