CVE-2023-22946Network attack vector

Privilege escalation via proxy-user custom classpath

Published Apr 17, 2023 · Updated Oct 21, 2024

Improper privilege management in Apache Spark before 3.4.0 allows remote authenticated users to execute code as the submitting user. SparkSubmit retained attacker-supplied child-classpath entries in proxy-user cluster mode and loaded their classes into its submission class loader. Architectures that use proxy-user isolation, including Apache Livy deployments, expose the submitter's privileges rather than the restricted proxy identity.

CVSS severity6.4
Medium
EPSS probability1.11%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper privilege management in Apache Spark before 3.4.0 allows remote authenticated users to execute code as the submitting user. SparkSubmit retained attacker-supplied child-classpath entries in proxy-user cluster mode and loaded their classes into its submission class loader. Architectures that use proxy-user isolation, including Apache Livy deployments, expose the submitter's privileges rather than the restricted proxy identity.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-22946
Published
Apr 17, 2023
Updated
Oct 21, 2024
Vendor
The Apache Software Foundation
Product
Apache Spark
Classifications
CWE-269, T1068
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 17, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 21, 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=0 <3.4.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Apache Software Foundation · Apache Sparkversion=0 <3.4.0

Published CVSS scores

9.9NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.4Apache Software FoundationCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-269Improper Privilege Management
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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