In Spring for Apache Kafka, unbounded delegate cache keyed on user-controlled, potentially malicious selector header
Priority LOW 29CWE-770Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 2 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA, GitHub and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-770.
Summary
When an application opts into DelegatingDeserializer, a producer can grow the consumer's heap without bound by sending records with unique random spring.kafka.serialization.selector header values, eventually causing GC thrash and OutOfMemoryError. Affected versions: Spring for Apache Kafka 4.0.0 through 4.0.5; 3.3.0 through 3.3.15; 3.2.0 through 3.2.13; 2.9.0 through 2.9.13; 2.8.0 through 2.8.11.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00296 22nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Spring for Apache Kafka (Spring): 4.0.5.1, 3.3.15.1, 3.2.14 +2org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka (Maven): 4.0.6, 3.3.16Red Hat: 2 without a fix
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VMware | Spring for Apache Kafka | 4.0.0 to before 4.0.5.1; 3.3.0 to before 3.3.15.1; 3.2.0 to before 3.2.14; 2.9.0 to before 2.9.14; 2.8.0 to before 2.8.12 | 4.0.5.1, 3.3.15.1, 3.2.14, 2.9.14, 2.8.12 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka (Maven) | 4.0.0 to before 4.0.6 | 4.0.6 | Patch available | GHSA-xvfq-4q6q-gxx7 |
| — | org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka (Maven) | 3.3.0 to before 3.3.16 | 3.3.16 | Patch available | GHSA-xvfq-4q6q-gxx7 |
| — | org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka (Maven) | 3.2.0 – 3.2.13 | — | No fix listed | GHSA-xvfq-4q6q-gxx7 |
| — | org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka (Maven) | 2.9.0 – 2.9.13 | — | No fix listed | GHSA-xvfq-4q6q-gxx7 |
| — | org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka (Maven) | up to 2.8.11 | — | No fix listed | GHSA-xvfq-4q6q-gxx7 |
- Spring for Apache Kafka VendorVMware Affected 4.0.0 to before 4.0.5.1; 3.3.0 to before 3.3.15.1; 3.2.0 to before 3.2.14; 2.9.0 to before 2.9.14; 2.8.0 to before 2.8.12 Fixed in 4.0.5.1, 3.3.15.1, 3.2.14, 2.9.14, 2.8.12 Patch available CNA
- org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka (Maven) Vendor— Affected 4.0.0 to before 4.0.6 Fixed in 4.0.6 Patch available GHSA-xvfq-4q6q-gxx7
- org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka (Maven) Vendor— Affected 3.3.0 to before 3.3.16 Fixed in 3.3.16 Patch available GHSA-xvfq-4q6q-gxx7
- org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka (Maven) Vendor— Affected 3.2.0 – 3.2.13 Fixed in — No fix listed GHSA-xvfq-4q6q-gxx7
- org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka (Maven) Vendor— Affected 2.9.0 – 2.9.13 Fixed in — No fix listed GHSA-xvfq-4q6q-gxx7
- org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka (Maven) Vendor— Affected up to 2.8.11 Fixed in — No fix listed GHSA-xvfq-4q6q-gxx7
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:spring_for_apache_kafka:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 2.8.12; 2.9.0 to before 2.9.14; 3.2.0 to before 3.2.14; 3.3.0 to before 3.3.15.1; 4.0.0 to before 4.0.5.1 | Vulnerable | VMware |
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:spring_for_apache_kafka:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2.8.12; 2.9.0 to before 2.9.14; 3.2.0 to before 3.2.14; 3.3.0 to before 3.3.15.1; 4.0.0 to before 4.0.5.1 Vulnerable ·VMware
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Spring for Apache Kafka (Spring) Fixed in 4.0.5.1, 3.3.15.1, 3.2.14, 2.9.14, 2.8.12
- Fix · GHSA-xvfq-4q6q-gxx7 org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka (Maven) Fixed in 4.0.6 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-xvfq-4q6q-gxx7 org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka (Maven) Fixed in 3.3.16 Advisory →
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
Spring for Apache Kafka 2.8.12, 2.9.14 and 3 more versions
3 records Highest priority Priority LOW 3 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2026-30245 Deserialization of untrusted data in VMware Spring for Apache KafkaPriority LOW 38
- TI-2026-30241 In Spring for Apache Kafka, forged retry topic headers subvert retry routing and backoff behaviorPriority LOW 28
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Fuse 7 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform Expansion Pack | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-41726
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-xvfq-4q6q-gxx7
References
More VMware Spring For Apache Kafka vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-30245 Deserialization of untrusted data in VMware Spring for Apache Kafka CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
- TI-2023-16906 Java Deserialization vulnerability in Spring-Kafka When Improperly Configured CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2026-42411 Server-side request forgery in VMware Spring for Apache Kafka CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.5
- TI-2026-42448 In Spring for Apache Kafka, missing header validation in… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.5
- TI-2026-30241 In Spring for Apache Kafka, forged retry topic headers subvert retry routing and backoff behavior CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.5
Sources
- CVE-2026-41726 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-41726 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-xvfq-4q6q-gxx7 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-41726 · 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