CVE-2023-23638

MEDIUM

Apache Dubbo 2.7.0-2.7.21, 3.0.0-3.0.13, 3.1.0-3.1.5 - Remote Code Execution via Generic Invoke Deserialization

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 6 public exploits for CVE-2023-23638. PoCs published by YYHYlh, X1r0z, JAckLosingHeart.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This repository contains a functional exploit for CVE-2023-23638, targeting Apache Dubbo 3.x. It includes both command execution and service discovery capabilities, with support for GUI and command-line interfaces.

Description

A deserialization vulnerability existed when dubbo generic invoke, which could lead to malicious code execution. This issue affects Apache Dubbo 2.7.x version 2.7.21 and prior versions; Apache Dubbo 3.0.x version 3.0.13 and prior versions; Apache Dubbo 3.1.x version 3.1.5 and prior versions.

Exploits (6)

nomisec WORKING POC 231 stars
by YYHYlh · poc
https://github.com/YYHYlh/Apache-Dubbo-CVE-2023-23638-exp

This repository contains a functional exploit for CVE-2023-23638, targeting Apache Dubbo 3.x. It includes both command execution and service discovery capabilities, with support for GUI and command-line interfaces.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apache Dubbo 3.x
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Network access to vulnerable Dubbo service · Java runtime environment
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 34 stars
by X1r0z · poc
https://github.com/X1r0z/dubbo-rce

This repository contains a functional exploit PoC for CVE-2023-23638, leveraging Java deserialization via Hessian to bypass Dubbo's serialization checks and achieve RCE through JNDI injection. The exploit manipulates `SerializeClassChecker` to allow deserialization of `JdbcRowSetImpl`, which triggers an LDAP-based payload.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apache Dubbo (versions affected by CVE-2023-23638)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Java 8 environment · ZooKeeper setup · LDAP server for JNDI payload delivery · VM parameter `-Ddubbo.hessian.allowNonSerializable=true`
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 19, 2026 Full analysis →
github WORKING POC 5 stars
by JAckLosingHeart · javapoc
https://github.com/JAckLosingHeart/CVE-PoC-Collection/tree/main/dubbo-CVE-2023-23638

The repository contains a functional PoC for CVE-2023-23638, demonstrating a deserialization attack in Apache Dubbo. The exploit manipulates the SerializeClassChecker to allow deserialization of malicious classes, leading to remote code execution via LDAP.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Deserialization
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apache Dubbo
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Access to a vulnerable Dubbo service · LDAP server for payload delivery
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 27, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 1 stars
by cuijiung · poc
https://github.com/cuijiung/dubbo-CVE-2023-23638

This repository contains a functional exploit PoC for CVE-2023-23638, leveraging Java deserialization in Apache Dubbo to bypass class restrictions and achieve JNDI injection. The exploit manipulates SerializeClassChecker to allow deserialization of malicious classes like JdbcRowSetImpl.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Deserialization
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apache Dubbo (versions affected by CVE-2023-23638)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Java 8 environment · ZooKeeper setup · VM parameter -Ddubbo.hessian.allowNonSerializable=true
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec STUB
by P4x1s · poc
https://github.com/P4x1s/CVE-2023-23638-Tools

The repository contains only a README.md file with minimal content, providing no functional exploit code or technical details about CVE-2023-23638.

Classification
Stub 90%
Attack Type
Other
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Theoretical
Target: unknown
No auth needed
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
inthewild WORKING POC
poc
https://github.com/x1r0z/cve-2023-23638

This repository contains a functional exploit PoC for CVE-2023-23638, leveraging Java deserialization via Apache Dubbo's Hessian protocol to achieve RCE. The exploit manipulates SerializeClassChecker to bypass restrictions and triggers JNDI injection via JdbcRowSetImpl.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apache Dubbo (versions affected by CVE-2023-23638)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Java 8 environment · ZooKeeper setup · VM parameter '-Ddubbo.hessian.allowNonSerializable=true' · LDAP server for JNDI payload delivery
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 23, 2026 Full analysis →

References (1)

Core 1
Core References
Issue Tracking, Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory
https://lists.apache.org/thread/8h6zscfzj482z512d2v5ft63hdhzm0cb

Scores

CVSS v3 5.0
EPSS 0.5029
EPSS Percentile 97.9%
Attack Vector NETWORK
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation none
Automatable no
Technical Impact partial

Details

CWE
CWE-502
Status published
Products (2)
apache/dubbo 2.7.0 - 2.7.21
org.apache.dubbo/dubbo 0 - 2.7.22Maven
Published Mar 08, 2023
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026