Server-side request forgery in VMware Spring for Apache Kafka
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Low · Low · None
- Fix status
- Will not fix Red Hat: no fix planned
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
JsonKafkaHeaderMapper and DefaultKafkaHeaderMapper include java.net in their default trusted packages list. When these mappers are used — which is the default configuration for all @KafkaListener consumers — an external Kafka producer can inject a java.net.InetAddress type via the spring_json_header_types message header. Spring for Apache Kafka 4.1.0 Spring for Apache Kafka 4.0.0 - 4.0.6 Spring for Apache Kafka 3.0.0 - 3.3.16 Spring for Apache Kafka 2.9.0 - 2.9.14 Spring for Apache Kafka 2.8.12 and earlier
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- 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 | 4.1.0; 4.0.0 – 4.0.6; 3.0.0 – 3.3.16; 2.9.0 – 2.9.14; up to 2.8.12 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Spring for Apache Kafka VendorVMware Affected 4.1.0; 4.0.0 – 4.0.6; 3.0.0 – 3.3.16; 2.9.0 – 2.9.14; up to 2.8.12 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:spring_for_apache_kafka:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 2.8.13; 2.9.0 to before 2.9.15; 3.0.0 to before 3.3.17; 4.0.0 to before 4.0.6.1; 4.1.0 to before 4.1.0.1 | Vulnerable | VMware |
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:spring_for_apache_kafka:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2.8.13; 2.9.0 to before 2.9.15; 3.0.0 to before 3.3.17; 4.0.0 to before 4.0.6.1; 4.1.0 to before 4.1.0.1 Vulnerable ·VMware
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
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 planned: Out of support scope |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-59278
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-f6gf-8w3m-3498
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-2026-42448 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
- CVE-2026-59278 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-59278 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-f6gf-8w3m-3498 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-59278 · 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