CVE-2020-9480Network attack vector

Host command execution via unauthenticated master RPC

Published Jun 23, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Authentication bypass in Apache Spark 2.4.5 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute host shell commands through a standalone master. The standalone master accepts a crafted RPC that starts attacker-controlled application resources without validating the configured shared secret. Exploitation requires network access to a standalone master with spark.authenticate enabled; YARN, Mesos, and other resource managers are not affected.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability29.37%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in Apache Spark 2.4.5 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute host shell commands through a standalone master. The standalone master accepts a crafted RPC that starts attacker-controlled application resources without validating the configured shared secret. Exploitation requires network access to a standalone master with spark.authenticate enabled; YARN, Mesos, and other resource managers are not affected.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-9480
Published
Jun 23, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
The Apache Software Foundation
Product
Apache Spark
Classifications
CWE-306, T1210
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 23, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=Apache Spark 2.4.5 and earlier

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Apache Software Foundation · Apache Sparkversion=Apache Spark 2.4.5 and earlier

Published CVSS scores

9.3GitHub Security AdvisoryCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
9.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.3NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-306Missing Authentication for Critical Function
T1210Exploitation of Remote Services

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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