Eclipse Vert.x uniqueItems check allows CPU-exhausting denial of service
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-407.
Summary
Eclipse Vert.x 4.0.0 through 4.5.34, 5.0.0 through 5.0.12, 5.1.0 through 5.1.9, and 5.2.0 are affected, as are modules that depend on vertx-json-schema, including vertx-web-openapi-router, vertx-web-validation and vertx-openapi. The uniqueItems check compares array items pairwise with no short-circuit or size limit, which is CWE-407 (Inefficient Algorithmic Complexity). A remote unauthenticated attacker can send a moderately sized JSON array that consumes disproportionate CPU time, causing denial of service.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
Description from the CNA
In Eclipse Vert.x versions [4.0.0, 4.5.34] or [5.0.0,5.0.12] or [5.1.0,5.1.9] or [5.2.0, 5.2.0], the uniqueItems keyword validation uses an O(n²) pairwise comparison loop with no short-circuit or size limit. A remote unauthenticated attacker can submit a moderately-sized JSON array that consumes disproportionate CPU time, leading to denial of service. The impacted component is io.vertx:vertx-json-schema. The following Vert.x modules depend on vertx-json-schema and are also affected: io.vertx:vertx-web-openapi-router io.vertx:vertx-web-validation io.vertx:vertx-openapi
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eclipse Foundation | Eclipse Vert.x | 4.0.0 – 4.5.34; 5.0.0 – 5.0.12; 5.1.0 – 5.1.9; 5.2.0 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Eclipse Vert.x VendorEclipse Foundation Affected 4.0.0 – 4.5.34; 5.0.0 – 5.0.12; 5.1.0 – 5.1.9; 5.2.0 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 2
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:eclipse:vert.x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.5.0 to before 4.5.35; 5.0.0 to before 5.1.10 | Vulnerable | Eclipse Foundation |
| cpe:2.3:a:eclipse:vert.x:5.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.2.0 | Vulnerable | Eclipse Foundation |
- cpe:2.3:a:eclipse:vert.x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.5.0 to before 4.5.35; 5.0.0 to before 5.1.10 Vulnerable ·Eclipse Foundation
- cpe:2.3:a:eclipse:vert.x:5.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.2.0 Vulnerable ·Eclipse Foundation
Remediation
The sources list no fixed version for Eclipse Vert.x. Red Hat rates this Important and lists Red Hat build of Apicurio Registry 3 and streams for Apache Kafka 3 as affected without a fix, with no fix plan available.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat build of Apicurio Registry 3 | Affected | No fix yet |
| streams for Apache Kafka 3 | Affected | No fix yet |
Timeline
- 2026-10-16 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-102461
- 2026-10-16 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
- 2026-10-16 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-16 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-16 Weakness changed · CISA ADP
- 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-16 Priority changed: LOW → MEDIUM
- 2026-10-18 Alias added: GHSA-5ww7-gp4j-grqp
- 2026-10-21 CVSS score added · NVD
- 2026-10-24 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
More Eclipse Foundation Vert.x vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-06017 Improper certificate validation in Eclipse Vert.x CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.9
- TI-2025-10971 In Eclipse Vert.x versions [4.0.0, 4.5.21] and [5.0.0, 5.0.4], a StaticHandler… CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.3
- TI-2019-13165 Path traversal in Eclipse Vert.x CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2018-09003 XML external entity injection in Eclipse Vert.x CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2018-09001 Path traversal in Eclipse Vert.x CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2025-10972 Cross-site scripting in Eclipse Foundation Vert.x CVSS 4.0LOW 2.3
Sources
- CVE-2026-102461 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-102461 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-5ww7-gp4j-grqp · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-102461 · 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