Authenticated code execution via event-log deserialization
Published Mar 14, 2026 · Updated Mar 14, 2026
Unsafe deserialization in Apache Spark 3.5.6 and earlier and 4.0.0 allows remote authenticated users to execute code through event logs. SparkListenerEvent uses Jackson class-name polymorphism on attacker-written JSON, instantiating arbitrary classes such as HiveConnection when the History Server replays a log. Write access to the configured event-log directory is required; successful exploitation runs code with the History Server's host privileges.
Summary
What happened
Unsafe deserialization in Apache Spark 3.5.6 and earlier and 4.0.0 allows remote authenticated users to execute code through event logs. SparkListenerEvent uses Jackson class-name polymorphism on attacker-written JSON, instantiating arbitrary classes such as HiveConnection when the History Server replays a log. Write access to the configured event-log directory is required; successful exploitation runs code with the History Server's host privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-54920
- Published
- Mar 14, 2026
- Updated
- Mar 14, 2026
- Vendor
- The Apache Software Foundation
- Product
- Apache Spark
- Classifications
- CWE-502
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Mar 14, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Mar 14, 2026Record 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 <3.5.7
- Affected versionversion=4.0.0 <4.0.1
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
- Apache Spark event-log deserialization proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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