Sign in
Deutsch English Español Polski
High

Apache Cassandra: User with MODIFY permission on ALL KEYSPACES can escalate privileges to superuser via unsafe actions (4.0.16 only)

  • Disclosed: 25.08.2025
  • Updated: 11.10.2026 12:22

Privilege Defined With Unsafe Actions vulnerability in Apache Cassandra. An user with MODIFY permission ON ALL KEYSPACES can escalate privileges to superuser within a targeted Cassandra cluster via unsafe actions to a system resource. Operators granting data MODIFY permission on all keyspaces on affected versions should review data access rules for potential breaches.

This issue affects Apache Cassandra 3.0.30, 3.11.17, 4.0.16, 4.1.7, 5.0.2, but this advisory is only for 4.0.16 because the fix to CVE-2025-23015 was incorrectly applied to 4.0.16, so that version is still affected.

Users in the 4.0 series are recommended to upgrade to version 4.0.17 which fixes the issue. Users from 3.0, 3.11, 4.1 and 5.0 series should follow recommendation from CVE-2025-23015.

Affected software

Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.

PlatformPackageVulnerable versionsFixed in
Java / Kotlin (Maven) org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all >= 4.0.16, < 4.0.17 4.0.17

References

CVSS score 8.8/10
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness (CWE)
CWE-267
Platform
Java / Kotlin (Maven)
Package
org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all
Disclosed
25.08.2025
Updated
11.10.2026 12:22

Sources and licenses

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-5c4f-pxmx-xcm4 - 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) this entry
    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
    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

Know which vulnerabilities affect your application

With the DockRay integration and software inventory enabled, DockRay checks reported component versions against known vulnerabilities and notifies you about confirmed matches. Coverage depends on the supported technology and available advisory data.

Connect your application
DockRay newsletter

Application security in your inbox

Important vulnerabilities, actionable guidance and practical advice for your applications. Choose your technologies and follow what matters to your project.

  • A daily digest of new vulnerabilities, critical ones included.
  • Notifications about important updates.
  • Practical advice on application security and monitoring.

Leave empty to receive updates for every technology.

Privacy policy

Free to subscribe. Unsubscribe with one click in any email.