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Medium

Apache Cassandra: unrestricted deserialization of JMX authentication credentials

  • Disclosed: 04.02.2025
  • Updated: 11.10.2026 12:21

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.

Affected software

Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.

PlatformPackageVulnerable versionsFixed in
Java / Kotlin (Maven) org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all >= 5.0-beta1, < 5.0.3, >= 4.1.0, < 4.1.8, >= 4.0.2, < 4.0.15 5.0.3, 4.1.8, 4.0.15

References

CVSS score 5.9/10
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Weakness (CWE)
CWE-668
Platform
Java / Kotlin (Maven)
Package
org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all
Disclosed
04.02.2025
Updated
11.10.2026 12:21

Sources and licenses

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-rgfx-7p65-3ff4 - 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: unrestricted deserialization of JMX authentication credentials this entry
    Medium · 5.9 CVE-2024-27137 >= 5.0-beta1, < 5.0.3, >= 4.1.0, < 4.1.8, >= 4.0.2, < 4.0.15 5.0.3, 4.1.8, 4.0.15
  4. 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
  5. Apache Cassandra: Privilege escalation when enabling FQL/Audit logs
    High · 7.8 CVE-2023-30601 >= 4.1.0, < 4.1.2, >= 4.0.0, < 4.0.10 4.1.2, 4.0.10
  6. Missing Authentication for Critical Function in Apache Cassandra
    Critical · 9.8 CVE-2018-8016 >= 3.8, < 3.11.2 3.11.2
  7. 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
  8. 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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