CVE-2023-46604

Apache ActiveMQ: Deserialization of Untrusted Data

As of , CVE-2023-46604 in Apache ActiveMQ is on CISA's list of exploited vulnerabilities: CISA listed it on . Our patch-first group: Patch this week.

Exploited
Yes: CISA listed it on 2 November 2023
US federal deadline
23 November 202321 days after CISA listed it. US federal civilian agencies must fix it by then.
Used in ransomware campaigns
Known
EPSS score
0.99Higher than 99% of the CVEs EPSS scores. EPSS estimates the chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days.
EPSS when listed
0.00 on 2 November 2023EPSS on the day CISA listed it.
Public exploit
1 Metasploit module
Fix
Vendor advice: activemq.apache.orgLinks below, from CISA's entry.

What CISA says to do

Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

CISA's required action

What the flaw is

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.

CISA's description

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.

The CVE record's description, from apache

CVE published
27 October 2023
Assigned by
apache
CVSS
10.0 Critical (CVSS 3.1, from the CNA)
CWE-502
Deserialization of Untrusted Data
CISA SSVC, exploitation
active
CISA SSVC, automatable
yes
CISA SSVC, technical impact
total

Timeline

  1. The CVE record was published.
  2. CISA added it to its list of exploited vulnerabilities.
  3. The US federal deadline to fix it.

Public exploits

Facts from Metasploit's module list and Exploit-DB's index; we never copy exploit code.

  • Metasploit: Apache ActiveMQ Unauthenticated Remote Code Executionexploit module, rank excellent

ActiveMQ: other exploited entries

VulnerabilityProductOur groupListedDeadlineEPSS
CVE-2016-3088Improper Input ValidationApache ActiveMQPatch this weekMetasploit module; EPSS 0.99; verified Exploit-DB entry0.99
CVE-2026-34197Improper Input ValidationApache ActiveMQPatch this weekMetasploit module0.15

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