CVE-2023-38156Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Root command execution via JDBC URL injection

Published Sep 12, 2023 · Updated Oct 30, 2025

JDBC injection in Apache Ambari in Microsoft Azure HDInsight before image 2308221128 allows remote authenticated users to gain root access. The Hive Database TEST CONNECTION check_host action passes a user-controlled db_connection_url with shell substitutions into a privileged connection test. A Cluster Operator can submit the crafted network request and execute commands as root on the cluster's main host.

CVSS severity7.2
High
EPSS probability1.99%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

JDBC injection in Apache Ambari in Microsoft Azure HDInsight before image 2308221128 allows remote authenticated users to gain root access. The Hive Database TEST CONNECTION check_host action passes a user-controlled db_connection_url with shell substitutions into a privileged connection test. A Cluster Operator can submit the crafted network request and execute commands as root on the cluster's main host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-38156
Published
Sep 12, 2023
Updated
Oct 30, 2025
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Azure HDInsight
Classifications
CWE-20, T1059.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 12, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 30, 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=1.0 <2308221128

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Azure HDInsightversion=1.0 <2308221128

Published CVSS scores

7.2Microsoft CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1059.004Unix Shell

Public exploit references

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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