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High

Apache Cassandra: Privilege escalation when enabling FQL/Audit logs

  • Disclosed: 06.07.2023
  • Updated: 11.10.2026 12:22

Privilege escalation when enabling FQL/Audit logs allows user with JMX access to run arbitrary commands as the user running Apache Cassandra This issue affects Apache Cassandra: from 4.0.0 through 4.0.9, from 4.1.0 through 4.1.1.

WORKAROUND The vulnerability requires nodetool/JMX access to be exploitable, disable access for any non-trusted users.

MITIGATION Upgrade to 4.0.10 or 4.1.2 and leave the new FQL/Auditlog configuration property allow_nodetool_archive_command as false.

Affected software

Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.

PlatformPackageVulnerable versionsFixed in
Java / Kotlin (Maven) org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all >= 4.1.0, < 4.1.2, >= 4.0.0, < 4.0.10 4.1.2, 4.0.10

References

CVSS score 7.8/10
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness (CWE)
CWE-269
Platform
Java / Kotlin (Maven)
Package
org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all
Disclosed
06.07.2023
Updated
11.10.2026 12:22

Sources and licenses

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-m9p2-j4hg-g373 - CC BY 4.0

Vulnerability history: org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all

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.

All (12) in the archive
Total entries
12
First → latest
05.2021 04.2026
Without a fix
0
Exploited in attacks
0

Severity breakdown

  • Critical 2
  • High 5
  • Medium 4
  • Low 1

Disclosures per year

Severity:
  1. Apache Cassandra is vulnerable to privilege escalation in an mTLS environment using MutualTlsAuthenticator
    High · 8.8 CVE-2026-27314 >= 5.0-alpha1, < 5.0.7 5.0.7
  2. Apache Cassandra: User with MODIFY permission on ALL KEYSPACES can escalate privileges to superuser via unsafe actions (4.0.16 only)
    High · 8.8 CVE-2025-26467 >= 4.0.16, < 4.0.17 4.0.17
  3. Apache Cassandra: User with MODIFY permission on ALL KEYSPACES can escalate privileges to superuser via unsafe actions
    High · 8.8 CVE-2025-23015 >= 5.0-alpha1, < 5.0.3, >= 4.1-alpha1, < 4.1.8, >= 4.0-alpha1, < 4.0.16, >= 3.1, < 3.11.18, < 3.0.31 5.0.3, 4.1.8, 4.0.16, 3.11.18, 3.0.31
  4. Apache Cassandra: Privilege escalation when enabling FQL/Audit logs this entry
    High · 7.8 CVE-2023-30601 >= 4.1.0, < 4.1.2, >= 4.0.0, < 4.0.10 4.1.2, 4.0.10
  5. Missing Authentication for Critical Function in Apache Cassandra
    Critical · 9.8 CVE-2018-8016 >= 3.8, < 3.11.2 3.11.2
  6. Apache Cassandra vulnerable to Code Injection due to unsafe configuration
    Critical · 9.1 CVE-2021-44521 < 3.0.26, >= 3.11.0, < 3.11.12, >= 4.0.0, < 4.0.2 3.0.26, 3.11.12, 4.0.2
  7. Authentication Bypass in Apache Cassandra
    High · 7.5 CVE-2020-17516 >= 2.1.0, < 3.0.24, >= 3.11.0, < 3.11.10 3.0.24, 3.11.10

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