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TI-2023-24043 Aliases CVE-2023-44981GHSA-7286-pgfv-vxvh

Apache ZooKeeper: Authorization bypass in SASL Quorum Peer Authentication

Priority MEDIUM 52CWE-639Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Security bypass
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · None
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 4 fixed, 7 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA, GitHub and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-639.

Summary

Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key vulnerability in Apache ZooKeeper. If SASL Quorum Peer authentication is enabled in ZooKeeper (quorum.auth.enableSasl=true), the authorization is done by verifying that the instance part in SASL authentication ID is listed in zoo.cfg server list. The instance part in SASL auth ID is optional and if it's missing, like '[email protected]', the authorization check will be skipped. As a result an arbitrary endpoint could join the cluster and begin propagating counterfeit changes to the leader, essentially giving it complete read-write access to the data tree. Quorum Peer authentication is not enabled by default. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.9.1, 3.8.3, 3.7.2, which fixes the issue. Alternately ensure the ensemble election/quorum communication is protected by a firewall as this will mitigate the issue. See the documentation for more details on correct cluster administration.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.02221 82nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Apache ZooKeeper (Apache Software Foundation): 3.9.1org.apache.zookeeper:zookeeper (Maven): 3.7.2, 3.8.3, 3.9.1Red Hat: 4 advisoriesRed Hat: 4 fixed, 7 without a fix

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
Yes
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 ZooKeeper3.9.0 to before 3.9.1; 3.8.0 – 3.8.2; 3.7.0 – 3.7.1; before 3.7.03.9.1Patch availableCNA
—org.apache.zookeeper:zookeeper (Maven)before 3.7.23.7.2Patch availableGHSA-7286-pgfv-vxvh
—org.apache.zookeeper:zookeeper (Maven)3.8.0 to before 3.8.33.8.3Patch availableGHSA-7286-pgfv-vxvh
—org.apache.zookeeper:zookeeper (Maven)3.9.0 to before 3.9.13.9.1Patch availableGHSA-7286-pgfv-vxvh
  • Apache ZooKeeper VendorApache Affected 3.9.0 to before 3.9.1; 3.8.0 – 3.8.2; 3.7.0 – 3.7.1; before 3.7.0 Fixed in 3.9.1 Patch available CNA
  • org.apache.zookeeper:zookeeper (Maven) Vendor— Affected before 3.7.2 Fixed in 3.7.2 Patch available GHSA-7286-pgfv-vxvh
  • org.apache.zookeeper:zookeeper (Maven) Vendor— Affected 3.8.0 to before 3.8.3 Fixed in 3.8.3 Patch available GHSA-7286-pgfv-vxvh
  • org.apache.zookeeper:zookeeper (Maven) Vendor— Affected 3.9.0 to before 3.9.1 Fixed in 3.9.1 Patch available GHSA-7286-pgfv-vxvh

CPE configurations NVD · 5

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:apache:zookeeper:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 3.7.2; 3.8.0 to before 3.8.3VulnerableApache
cpe:2.3:a:apache:zookeeper:3.9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*3.9.0VulnerableApache
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*10.0VulnerableDebian
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*11.0VulnerableDebian
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:12.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*12.0VulnerableDebian
  • cpe:2.3:a:apache:zookeeper:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 3.7.2; 3.8.0 to before 3.8.3 Vulnerable ·Apache
  • cpe:2.3:a:apache:zookeeper:3.9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.9.0 Vulnerable ·Apache
  • cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
  • cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
  • cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:12.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 12.0 Vulnerable ·Debian

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA Apache ZooKeeper (Apache Software Foundation) Fixed in 3.9.1
  • Fix · GHSA-7286-pgfv-vxvh org.apache.zookeeper:zookeeper (Maven) Fixed in 3.7.2 Advisory →
  • Fix · GHSA-7286-pgfv-vxvh org.apache.zookeeper:zookeeper (Maven) Fixed in 3.8.3 Advisory →
  • Fix · GHSA-7286-pgfv-vxvh org.apache.zookeeper:zookeeper (Maven) Fixed in 3.9.1 Advisory →

Red Hat 4 advisories

  • RHSA-2024:2945 Released 2024-05-21 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat AMQ Broker 7.12.0 release and security update
    • Red Hat AMQ Broker 7
  • RHSA-2024:0903 Released 2024-02-20 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    Red Hat AMQ Broker 7.10.6 release and security update
    • AMQ Broker 7.10.6
  • RHSA-2024:0705 Released 2024-02-06 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    Red Hat AMQ Broker 7.11.6 release and security update
    • Red Hat AMQ Broker 7.11.6
Show 1 more Red Hat advisories
  • RHSA-2023:7678 Released 2023-12-06 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat AMQ Streams 2.6.0 release and security update
    • Red Hat AMQ Streams 2.6.0

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat BPM Suite 6AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat JBoss A-MQ 6AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat JBoss BRMS 6AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat JBoss Data Virtualization 6AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat JBoss Fuse 6AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat JBoss Fuse Service Works 6AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat OpenShift Application RuntimesAffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
AMQ Broker 7.10.6Fixed RHSA-2024:0903
Red Hat AMQ Broker 7Fixed RHSA-2024:2945
Red Hat AMQ Broker 7.11.6Fixed RHSA-2024:0705
Red Hat AMQ Streams 2.6.0Fixed RHSA-2023:7678
Not affected: 3 products
  • Red Hat Decision Manager 7
  • Red Hat Fuse 7
  • Red Hat Process Automation 7

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-44981
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-7286-pgfv-vxvh

References

  • TI-2017-03638 Missing authentication in Apache ZooKeeper CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.5
  • TI-2021-04395 Possible request smuggling in HTTP/2 due missing validation CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.9
  • TI-2024-34425 Apache ZooKeeper: Authentication bypass with IP-based authentication in Admin Server CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
  • TI-2016-04336 Buffer overflow in the C cli shell in Apache Zookeeper before 3.4.9 and 3.5.x before… CVSS 3.0HIGH 8.1
  • TI-2018-05789 Missing authorization in Apache ZooKeeper CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
  • TI-2026-55327 Missing authorization in Apache ZooKeeper CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
See all 15 →

Sources