CVE-2023-25194

HIGH EXPLOITED IN THE WILD NUCLEI

Apache Kafka Connect 2.3.0-3.3.1 - Authenticated Remote Code Execution via SASL JAAS Config Deserialization

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

CVE-2023-25194 has been observed exploited in the wild (reported by VulnCheck KEV, InTheWild.io). EIP tracks 6 public exploits from researchers including ohnonoyesyes, vulncheck-oss, YongYe-Security, including a Metasploit module exploits/multi/http/apache_druid_cve_2023_25194. A Nuclei detection template is also available.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This repository contains a functional Proof-of-Concept (PoC) for CVE-2023-25194, which exploits a JNDI injection vulnerability in Kafka Connect. The exploit leverages a crafted JSON payload to trigger remote code execution via an LDAP reference in the JNDI configuration.

Description

A possible security vulnerability has been identified in Apache Kafka Connect API. This requires access to a Kafka Connect worker, and the ability to create/modify connectors on it with an arbitrary Kafka client SASL JAAS config and a SASL-based security protocol, which has been possible on Kafka Connect clusters since Apache Kafka Connect 2.3.0. When configuring the connector via the Kafka Connect REST API, an authenticated operator can set the `sasl.jaas.config` property for any of the connector's Kafka clients to "com.sun.security.auth.module.JndiLoginModule", which can be done via the `producer.override.sasl.jaas.config`, `consumer.override.sasl.jaas.config`, or `admin.override.sasl.jaas.config` properties. This will allow the server to connect to the attacker's LDAP server and deserialize the LDAP response, which the attacker can use to execute java deserialization gadget chains on the Kafka connect server. Attacker can cause unrestricted deserialization of untrusted data (or) RCE vulnerability when there are gadgets in the classpath. Since Apache Kafka 3.0.0, users are allowed to specify these properties in connector configurations for Kafka Connect clusters running with out-of-the-box configurations. Before Apache Kafka 3.0.0, users may not specify these properties unless the Kafka Connect cluster has been reconfigured with a connector client override policy that permits them. Since Apache Kafka 3.4.0, we have added a system property ("-Dorg.apache.kafka.disallowed.login.modules") to disable the problematic login modules usage in SASL JAAS configuration. Also by default "com.sun.security.auth.module.JndiLoginModule" is disabled in Apache Kafka Connect 3.4.0. We advise the Kafka Connect users to validate connector configurations and only allow trusted JNDI configurations. Also examine connector dependencies for vulnerable versions and either upgrade their connectors, upgrading that specific dependency, or removing the connectors as options for remediation. Finally, in addition to leveraging the "org.apache.kafka.disallowed.login.modules" system property, Kafka Connect users can also implement their own connector client config override policy, which can be used to control which Kafka client properties can be overridden directly in a connector config and which cannot.

Exploits (6)

nomisec WORKING POC 95 stars
by ohnonoyesyes · remote
https://github.com/ohnonoyesyes/CVE-2023-25194

This repository contains a functional Proof-of-Concept (PoC) for CVE-2023-25194, which exploits a JNDI injection vulnerability in Kafka Connect. The exploit leverages a crafted JSON payload to trigger remote code execution via an LDAP reference in the JNDI configuration.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apache Kafka Connect (with Debezium MySQL Connector)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Kafka Connect must be running · MySQL connection details must be valid · Debezium MySQL Connector libraries must be present in Kafka's libs directory
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 4 stars
by vulncheck-oss · remote
https://github.com/vulncheck-oss/cve-2023-25194

This repository contains a functional Go-based exploit for CVE-2023-25194, a deserialization vulnerability in Apache Druid (via Kafka). The exploit includes an embedded LDAP and HTTP server to facilitate the attack, demonstrating remote code execution (RCE) against vulnerable targets.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apache Druid (via Kafka) versions < 26.0.0 or 25.0.0
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Network access to target Druid/Kafka instance · LDAP and HTTP server reachable from target
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec SCANNER 2 stars
by YongYe-Security · remote
https://github.com/YongYe-Security/CVE-2023-25194

The repository contains a Python script that scans for CVE-2023-25194 by sending a crafted POST request to a target URL and checking the response for a specific error message. It does not execute a full exploit but detects potential vulnerability.

Classification
Scanner 95%
Attack Type
Other
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apache Druid
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Network access to the target Apache Druid instance
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
vulncheck_xdb WORKING POC
remote
https://github.com/Veraxy00/Flink-Kafka-Vul

This repository contains a functional Python exploit for CVE-2023-34212, targeting Apache NiFi. The exploit automates the creation of a JNDI-based JMS connection factory and processor to achieve remote code execution via JNDI injection.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apache NiFi (version not explicitly specified in code)
Auth required
Prerequisites: Valid authentication cookie for NiFi API · Network access to NiFi instance · JNDI provider URL under attacker control
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 25, 2026 Full analysis →
vulncheck_xdb WORKING POC
remote
https://github.com/Avento/Apache_Druid_JNDI_Vuln

This repository contains a functional Python exploit for CVE-2023-25194, targeting Apache Druid's JNDI injection vulnerability in the indexer/v1/sampler endpoint. The PoC crafts a malicious Kafka configuration with a JNDI payload to achieve remote code execution.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apache Druid <= 25.0.0
No auth needed
Prerequisites: JNDI server (e.g., JNDIExploit) · network access to target
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 25, 2026 Full analysis →
metasploit WORKING POC EXCELLENT
rubypocwin
https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/multi/http/apache_druid_cve_2023_25194.rb

This Metasploit module exploits a JNDI injection vulnerability in Apache Druid via the indexer/v1/sampler endpoint, allowing remote code execution by manipulating the sasl.jaas.config property to trigger an LDAP connection and Java deserialization attack.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apache Druid (affected versions not explicitly stated, but referenced CVE-2023-25194)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Network access to the Druid server · LDAP server controlled by the attacker · Java deserialization gadgets in the classpath
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

Nuclei Templates (1)

Apache Druid Kafka Connect - Remote Code Execution
HIGHVERIFIEDby j4vaovo
Shodan: html:"Apache Druid" || http.html:"apache druid"
FOFA: body="apache druid"

References (3)

Core 3
Core References
Mitigation, Vendor Advisory release-notes
https://kafka.apache.org/cve-list
Mailing List, Mitigation vendor-advisory
https://lists.apache.org/thread/vy1c7fqcdqvq5grcqp6q5jyyb302khyz

Scores

CVSS v3 8.8
EPSS 0.9405
EPSS Percentile 99.9%
Attack Vector NETWORK
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation poc
Automatable no
Technical Impact total

Details

VulnCheck KEV 2024-05-10
InTheWild.io 2024-05-17
CWE
CWE-502
Status published
Products (2)
apache/kafka_connect 2.3.0 - 3.3.2
org.apache.kafka/connect 2.3.0 - 3.4.0Maven
Published Feb 07, 2023
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026