Missing authentication in Apache Cassandra
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-306.
Summary
The default configuration in Apache Cassandra 3.8 through 3.11.1 binds an unauthenticated JMX/RMI interface to all network interfaces, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Java code via an RMI request. This issue is a regression of CVE-2015-0225. The regression was introduced in https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/CASSANDRA-12109. The fix for the regression is implemented in https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/CASSANDRA-14173. This fix is contained in the 3.11.2 release of Apache Cassandra.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apache | Apache Cassandra | Apache Cassandra 3.8 to 3.11.1 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
| — | org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all (Maven) | 3.8 to before 3.11.2 | 3.11.2 | Patch available | GHSA-52gq-7j6c-xw6x |
- Apache Cassandra VendorApache Affected Apache Cassandra 3.8 to 3.11.1 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
- org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all (Maven) Vendor— Affected 3.8 to before 3.11.2 Fixed in 3.11.2 Patch available GHSA-52gq-7j6c-xw6x
Remediation
- Fix · GHSA-52gq-7j6c-xw6x org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all (Maven) Fixed in 3.11.2 Advisory →
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat JBoss Operations Network 3
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2018-8016
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-52gq-7j6c-xw6x
References
Other 4
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/bafb9060bbdf958a1c15ba66c68531116fba4a83858a2796254da066%40%3Cuser.cassandra.apache.org%3E
- https://github.com/beobal/cassandra/commit/28ee665b3c0c9238b61a871064f024d54cddcc79
- https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/CASSANDRA-14173
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/bafb9060bbdf958a1c15ba66c68531116fba4a83858a2796254da066@%3Cuser.cassandra.apache.org%3E
More Apache Cassandra vulnerabilities
- TI-2016-02888 Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Java SE 6u113, 7u99, and 8u77; Java SE Embedded 8u77… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2021-20121 Remote code execution for scripted UDFs CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
- TI-2019-02233 Vulnerability in the Java SE, Java SE Embedded component of Oracle Java SE (subcomponent… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.9
- TI-2016-04292 handler/ssl/OpenSslEngine.java in Netty 4.0.x before 4.0.37.Final and 4.1.x before… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2025-16827 Apache Cassandra: User with MODIFY permission on ALL KEYSPACES can escalate privileges to superuser via unsafe actions CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2015-00197 The default configuration in Apache Cassandra 1.2.0 through 1.2.19, 2.0.0 through 2.0.13… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.5
Sources
- CVE-2018-8016 · CVE Program
- CVE-2018-8016 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-52gq-7j6c-xw6x · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2018-8016 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences