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TI-2026-30245 Aliases CVE-2026-41731GHSA-xq69-5h5v-x9x4

Deserialization of untrusted data in VMware Spring for Apache Kafka

Priority LOW 38CWE-502Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
High
Impact type
Code execution
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 1 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA, GitHub and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-502.

Summary

JsonKafkaHeaderMapper and the deprecated DefaultKafkaHeaderMapper matched type headers against trusted packages using a prefix check, meaning that trusting any package implicitly trusted all of its subpackages. Combined with Jackson's default bean deserialization, a producer could supply crafted header values that caused the consumer to deserialize arbitrary JDK types. 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 0.0051 43rd 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: 1 without a fix

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
VMwareSpring for Apache Kafka4.0.0 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 2.8.124.0.5.1, 3.3.15.1, 3.2.14, 2.9.14, 2.8.12Patch availableCNA
—org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka (Maven)4.0.0 to before 4.0.64.0.6Patch availableGHSA-xq69-5h5v-x9x4
—org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka (Maven)3.3.0 to before 3.3.163.3.16Patch availableGHSA-xq69-5h5v-x9x4
—org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka (Maven)3.2.0 – 3.2.13—No fix listedGHSA-xq69-5h5v-x9x4
—org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka (Maven)2.9.0 – 2.9.13—No fix listedGHSA-xq69-5h5v-x9x4
—org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka (Maven)up to 2.8.11—No fix listedGHSA-xq69-5h5v-x9x4
  • 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-xq69-5h5v-x9x4
  • org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka (Maven) Vendor— Affected 3.3.0 to before 3.3.16 Fixed in 3.3.16 Patch available GHSA-xq69-5h5v-x9x4
  • org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka (Maven) Vendor— Affected 3.2.0 – 3.2.13 Fixed in — No fix listed GHSA-xq69-5h5v-x9x4
  • org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka (Maven) Vendor— Affected 2.9.0 – 2.9.13 Fixed in — No fix listed GHSA-xq69-5h5v-x9x4
  • org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka (Maven) Vendor— Affected up to 2.8.11 Fixed in — No fix listed GHSA-xq69-5h5v-x9x4

CPE configurations NVD · 3

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:spring_for_apache_kafka:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*2.8.0 to 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 4.0.5.1VulnerableVMware
cpe:2.3:a:redhat:fuse:7.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.0.0VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:a:redhat:jboss_enterprise_application_platform_expansion_pack:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*not specified by NVDVulnerableRed Hat
  • cpe:2.3:a:vmware:spring_for_apache_kafka:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.8.0 to 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:redhat:fuse:7.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:a:redhat:jboss_enterprise_application_platform_expansion_pack:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·Red Hat

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-xq69-5h5v-x9x4 org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka (Maven) Fixed in 4.0.6 Advisory →
  • Fix · GHSA-xq69-5h5v-x9x4 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-2026-30240 In Spring for Apache Kafka, unbounded delegate cache keyed on user-controlled, potentially malicious selector headerPriority LOW 29
    • 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: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Fuse 7AffectedNo fix planned: Will not fix
Not affected: 1 product
  • Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform Expansion Pack

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-41731
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-xq69-5h5v-x9x4
  3. 2026-10-19 EPSS moved to the 50th–90th percentile
  4. 2026-10-25 EPSS moved to the below the 50th percentile

References

  • 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-2026-30240 In Spring for Apache Kafka, unbounded delegate cache keyed on user-controlled, potentially malicious selector header 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