Apache · ActiveMQ
CVE-2023-46604
Apache ActiveMQ, Apache ActiveMQ Legacy OpenWire Module: Unbounded deserialization causes ActiveMQ to be vulnerable to a remote code execution (RCE) attack
What it is
The Java OpenWire protocol marshaller is vulnerable to Remote Code
Execution. This vulnerability may allow a remote attacker with network
access to either a Java-based OpenWire broker or client to run arbitrary
shell commands by manipulating serialized class types in the OpenWire
protocol to cause either the client or the broker (respectively) to
instantiate any class on the classpath.
Users are recommended to upgrade
both brokers and clients to version 5.15.16, 5.16.7, 5.17.6, or 5.18.3
which fixes this issue.
CISA: Apache ActiveMQ contains a deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability that may allow a remote attacker with network access to a broker to run shell commands by manipulating serialized class types in the OpenWire protocol to cause the broker to instantiate any class on the classpath.
What to do
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Deadline for US federal agencies: November 23, 2023
- Added to the CISA list
- November 2, 2023
- Published
- October 27, 2023
- Severity
- Critical 10.0 CVSS 3.1
- Chance of attacks in the next 30 days (EPSS)
- 99.9% in the top 0.1% of all known vulnerabilities
- Weakness
- CWE-502
- More details
- NVD · CVE.org · CISA
All references (6)
- https://activemq.apache.org/security-advisories.data/CVE-2023-46604-announcement.txt
- https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/10/27/5
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20231110-0010/
- https://packetstormsecurity.com/files/175676/Apache-ActiveMQ-Unauthenticated-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/11/msg00013.html
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Apr/18
More exploited flaws from Apache
| Added | Vulnerability | Product | Severity | Attack chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 16, 2026 | Improper Input Validation | ActiveMQ | High 8.8 | 98% |
| Feb 10, 2022 | Improper Input Validation | ActiveMQ | Critical 9.8 | 99% |
| Oct 8, 2026 | Command Injection | Struts | High 8.1 | 97% |
| Aug 4, 2026 | Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data | Tomcat | High 7.5 | 99% |
| May 1, 2025 | Improper Escaping of Output | HTTP Server | Critical 9.1 | >99.9% |
| Apr 1, 2025 | Path Equivalence | Tomcat | Critical 10.0 | 99.9% |
| Feb 4, 2025 | Forced Browsing | OFBiz | Critical 9.8 | >99.9% |
| Sep 18, 2024 | Improper Access Control | HugeGraph-Server | Critical 9.8 | 99.2% |
Sources: Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (CISA, public domain), CVE records (cve.org) and EPSS (FIRST). The chance of attacks is the EPSS estimate that someone will try to exploit the flaw in the next 30 days.