Out-of-bounds read in Apache bRPC Discovery reply parsing
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · Low
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
Apache bRPC before 1.18.0 calls object-only RapidJSON accessors (FindMember) on JSON values without checking that they are objects. In the Discovery naming service reply parser, a malformed response whose data, service or instance entries are not objects, such as a bare integer, can trigger an out-of-bounds read (CWE-125) that may crash the bRPC client. The flaw affects clients that refresh their server list from a Discovery backend that is operator-configured or compromised.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
Description from the CNA
The Discovery naming-service reply parser in Apache bRPC (versions < 1.18.0) calls RapidJSON object-only accessors (FindMember) on JSON values without first validating that those values are objects. A malformed Discovery response whose data/service members or instances list contain non-object entries (e.g. a bare integer) triggers the RapidJSON object-access precondition on the client, reading memory out of bounds and potentially crashing the bRPC client. Root Cause: In src/brpc/policy/discovery_naming_service.cpp, DiscoveryNamingService::GetServers() and DiscoveryNames::ListDiscoveryNodes() access JSON values with member functions on non-object values. RapidJSON only defines these operations for object types; invoking them on a non-object violates the class invariant and results in undefined behavior (out-of-bounds read), commonly crashing the process. Affected Scenarios: An operator-configured (or compromised) Discovery backend returns a malformed /discovery/nodes or /discovery/fetchs response whose data/service/instance entries are not JSON objects, crashing any bRPC client that refreshes its server list. How to Fix: 1. Upgrade bRPC to version 1.18.0 or later, which fixes this issue. 2. Apply this patch: https://github.com/apache/brpc/pull/3533 The fix validates that the Discovery response data, per-service data, and instance entries are JSON objects (and skips non-object node/instance entries and rejects non-object data/service values) before calling member accessors.
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
Remediation
Upgrade Apache bRPC to version 1.18.0 or later, which validates these JSON values before use. Alternatively, apply the patch from Apache pull request 3533.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
- Fix · CNA Apache bRPC (Apache Software Foundation) Fixed in 1.18.0
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Advisory ·
Apache bRPC — lists.apache.org/thread/2pf15ojj0vr7rtx95677kgtl1mx3gdgb
35 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 18 MEDIUM, 17 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2026-78552 Out-of-bounds write in Apache bRPC Redis command parserPriority MEDIUM 49
- TI-2026-78757 Authentication bypass in Apache bRPC servers using internal_portPriority MEDIUM 48
- TI-2026-78742 Missing authentication in Apache bRPC streaming RPC framesPriority MEDIUM 48
Timeline
- 2026-10-21 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-87849
- 2026-10-21 Alias added: GHSA-xg38-r433-2m2c
- 2026-10-26 CVSS score added · CISA ADP
- 2026-10-26 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
More Apache vulnerabilities
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- TI-2024-26062 Apache OFBiz: Unauthenticated endpoint could allow execution of screen rendering code KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2024-21190 Apache OFBiz: Path traversal leading to RCE KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2024-18186 Apache HugeGraph-Server: Command execution in gremlin KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2023-25106 Deserialization of untrusted data in Apache ActiveMQ KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
Sources
- CVE-2026-87849 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-87849 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-xg38-r433-2m2c · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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