RabbitMQ: JMS topic exchange erl_scan atom exhaustion
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- Present
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 1 fixed, 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-400.
Summary
RabbitMQ is a messaging and streaming broker. Prior to versions 3.13.15, 4.0.20, 4.1.11, 4.2.6, 4.3.0, When a binding is created on an x-jms-topic exchange, add_binding/3 reads the rjms_erlang_selector argument and passes it through erl_scan:string/1 then erl_parse:parse_term/1. erl_scan:string/1 interns every atom literal it tokenizes. validate_binding/2 is a no-op (-> ok.), there is no length cap, and the surrounding try/catch cannot reclaim atoms. The Java JMS client compiles selectors client-side, but the server does not enforce this , a raw AMQP client can send arbitrary selector strings. An authenticated low-privilege AMQP user confined to one vhost can crash the entire broker node (cross-tenant DoS) in <100 bind calls. Preconditions include rabbitmq_jms_topic_exchange plugin enabled (bundled; required for any JMS deployment) Authenticated AMQP user with read on an x-jms-topic exchange + write on a queue (or configure to declare both). This issue is fixed in versions 3.13.15, 4.0.20, 4.1.11, 4.2.6, 4.3.0.
Why it matters now
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rabbitmq | rabbitmq-server | 3.13.0 to before 3.13.15; 4.0.0 to before 4.0.20; 4.1.0 to before 4.1.11; 4.2.0 to before 4.2.6 | 3.13.15, 4.0.20, 4.1.11, 4.2.6 | Patch available | CNA |
- rabbitmq-server Vendorrabbitmq Affected 3.13.0 to before 3.13.15; 4.0.0 to before 4.0.20; 4.1.0 to before 4.1.11; 4.2.0 to before 4.2.6 Fixed in 3.13.15, 4.0.20, 4.1.11, 4.2.6 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:broadcom:rabbitmq_server:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.13.0 to before 3.13.15; 4.0.0 to before 4.0.20; 4.1.0 to before 4.1.11; 4.2.0 to before 4.2.6 | Vulnerable | Broadcom |
- cpe:2.3:a:broadcom:rabbitmq_server:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.13.0 to before 3.13.15; 4.0.0 to before 4.0.20; 4.1.0 to before 4.1.11; 4.2.0 to before 4.2.6 Vulnerable ·Broadcom
Remediation
- Fix · CNA rabbitmq-server (rabbitmq) Fixed in 3.13.15, 4.0.20, 4.1.11, 4.2.6
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2026:67552 Released 2026-09-15 · Red Hat rating ImportantRed Hat Hardened Images RPMs bug fix and enhancement update
- Red Hat Hardened Images rabbitmq-server4.3-4.3.6-1.hum1@aarch64, rabbitmq-server4.3-4.3.6-1.hum1@src, rabbitmq-server4.3-4.3.6-1.hum1@x86_64
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Hardened Images | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Hardened Images | Fixed | RHSA-2026:67552 |
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat OpenStack Platform 13 (Queens)
- Red Hat OpenStack Platform 16.2
- Red Hat OpenStack Platform 17.1
- Red Hat OpenStack Platform 18.0
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-67220
- 2026-10-20 CVSS score added · NVD
References
More rabbitmq vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-41154 Improper authentication in rabbitmq-server CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2026-41149 RabbitMQ: UNC SSRF affecting the management UI on Windows CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2026-41158 Resource allocation without limits in rabbitmq-server CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2026-47695 RabbitMQ: OAuth2 Client Secret Exposed via Unauthenticated JavaScript Endpoint CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.2
- TI-2026-47694 RabbitMQ: JWKS Fetch Ignores HTTP Response Status Code - Signing Key Destruction Causes Authentication DoS CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.2
- TI-2026-45167 RabbitMQ Java client: Unvalidated Class.forName in JSON-RPC ProcedureDescription enables arbitrary class loading CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.5
Sources
- CVE-2026-67220 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-67220 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- CVE-2026-67220 · 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