Authenticated code execution via unrestricted Jolokia MBeans
Published Nov 28, 2023 · Updated Nov 3, 2025
Deserialization in Apache ActiveMQ before 5.16.6 and 5.17.0 through 5.17.3 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code. The Jolokia POST handler converts attacker-controlled JSON into JMX requests and lets ExecHandler invoke unrestricted MBeans, including FlightRecorderMXBean operations that write a JSP webshell. Reachability requires valid Jolokia credentials and, for the documented chain, Java 11 or later; successful exploitation executes code with the broker's privileges.
Summary
What happened
Deserialization in Apache ActiveMQ before 5.16.6 and 5.17.0 through 5.17.3 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code. The Jolokia POST handler converts attacker-controlled JSON into JMX requests and lets ExecHandler invoke unrestricted MBeans, including FlightRecorderMXBean operations that write a JSP webshell. Reachability requires valid Jolokia credentials and, for the documented chain, Java 11 or later; successful exploitation executes code with the broker's privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-41678
- Published
- Nov 28, 2023
- Updated
- Nov 3, 2025
- Vendor
- The Apache Software Foundation
- Product
- Apache ActiveMQ
- Classifications
- CWE-287, CWE-502, T1210
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Nov 28, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Nov 3, 2025Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=0 <5.16.6
- Affected versionversion=5.17.0 <5.17.4
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
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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