CVE-2023-51518

Privilege escalation via unauthenticated JMX deserialization

Published Feb 27, 2024 · Updated Aug 22, 2024

Deserialization of untrusted data in Apache James Server 3.7.4 and earlier and 3.8.0 allows local users to escalate privileges through JMX. The localhost JMX endpoint deserializes request objects on unauthenticated channels before an authentication filter rejects the client. Default exposure is limited to the local host, and exploitation also requires a usable deserialization gadget in the server class path.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability1.19%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Deserialization of untrusted data in Apache James Server 3.7.4 and earlier and 3.8.0 allows local users to escalate privileges through JMX. The localhost JMX endpoint deserializes request objects on unauthenticated channels before an authentication filter rejects the client. Default exposure is limited to the local host, and exploitation also requires a usable deserialization gadget in the server class path.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-51518
Published
Feb 27, 2024
Updated
Aug 22, 2024
Vendor
The Apache Software Foundation
Product
Apache James Server
Classifications
CWE-502, CAPEC-586, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 27, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 22, 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 <=3.7.4
  2. Affected versionversion=3.8
  3. Affected versionversion=3.8 <=3.8.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Apache Software Foundation · Apache James Serverversion=0 <=3.7.4; version=3.8; version=3.8 <=3.8.0

Published CVSS scores

9.8CISACVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-502Deserialization of Untrusted Data
CAPEC-586Object Injection
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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