CVE-2023-26269

Local privilege escalation via unauthenticated JMX

Published Apr 3, 2023 · Updated Feb 13, 2025

Missing authorization in Apache James Server 3.7.3 and earlier allows local users to escalate privileges through the JMX service. The default JMX configuration exposes the management endpoint on loopback without requiring credentials, leaving administrative MBean operations available to any local account. A low-privileged local account is required, and successful use grants management access with the James process's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.65%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Missing authorization in Apache James Server 3.7.3 and earlier allows local users to escalate privileges through the JMX service. The default JMX configuration exposes the management endpoint on loopback without requiring credentials, leaving administrative MBean operations available to any local account. A low-privileged local account is required, and successful use grants management access with the James process's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-26269
Published
Apr 3, 2023
Updated
Feb 13, 2025
Vendor
The Apache Software Foundation
Product
Apache James Server
Classifications
CWE-862, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 3, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 13, 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <=3.7.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Apache Software Foundation · Apache James Serverversion=0 <=3.7.3

Published CVSS scores

7.8GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-862Missing Authorization
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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