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TI-2023-11431 Aliases CVE-2023-26269GHSA-w7r6-v4j7-h94w

Apache James server: Privilege escalation through unauthenticated JMX

Priority LOW 37CWE-862Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Security bypass
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-862.

Summary

Apache James server version 3.7.3 and earlier provides a JMX management service without authentication by default. This allows privilege escalation by a malicious local user. Administrators are advised to disable JMX, or set up a JMX password. Note that version 3.7.4 onward will set up a JMX password automatically for Guice users.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00654 51st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed org.apache.james:javax-mail-extension (Maven): 3.7.4

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Total

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
ApacheApache James serverup to 3.7.3—No fix listedCNA
—org.apache.james:javax-mail-extension (Maven)before 3.7.43.7.4Patch availableGHSA-w7r6-v4j7-h94w
  • Apache James server VendorApache Affected up to 3.7.3 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
  • org.apache.james:javax-mail-extension (Maven) Vendor— Affected before 3.7.4 Fixed in 3.7.4 Patch available GHSA-w7r6-v4j7-h94w

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:apache:james:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 3.7.4VulnerableApache
  • cpe:2.3:a:apache:james:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 3.7.4 Vulnerable ·Apache

Remediation

  • Fix · GHSA-w7r6-v4j7-h94w org.apache.james:javax-mail-extension (Maven) Fixed in 3.7.4 Advisory →

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-26269
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-w7r6-v4j7-h94w
  3. 2026-10-14 EPSS moved to the 50th–90th percentile

References

Advisory 2

Other 2

  • TI-2019-00201 XML external entity injection in Apache PDFBox CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2023-28170 Apache James server: Privilege escalation via JMX pre-authentication deserialisation CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2021-17565 Sieve file storage vulnerable to path traversal attacks CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
  • TI-2006-02714 The SMTP server in Apache Java Mail Enterprise Server (aka Apache James) 2.2.0 allows… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.8
  • TI-2021-17305 Apache James IMAP vulnerable to a ReDoS CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
  • TI-2022-11006 STARTTLS command injection in Apache JAMES CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
See all 13 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences