CVE-2026-33701OpenTelemetry: Unsafe Deserialization in RMI Instrumentation may Lead to Remote Code Execution
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It affects open-telemetry opentelemetry-java-instrumentation and 3 other products. Add what you run to find out whether that includes you.
No exploitation reported and no EPSS estimate yet.
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OpenTelemetry Java Instrumentation provides OpenTelemetry auto-instrumentation and instrumentation libraries for Java. In versions prior to 2.26.1, the RMI instrumentation registered a custom endpoint that deserialized incoming data without applying serialization filters. On JDK version 16 and earlier, an attacker with network access to a JMX or RMI port on an instrumented JVM could exploit this to potentially achieve remote code execution. All three of the following conditions must be true to exploit this vulnerability: First, OpenTelemetry Java instrumentation is attached as a Java agent (`-javaagent`) on Java 16 or earlier. Second, JMX/RMI port has been explicitly configured via `-Dcom.sun.management.jmxremote.port` and is network-reachable. Third, gadget-chain-compatible library is present on the classpath. This results in arbitrary remote code execution with the privileges of the user running the instrumented JVM. For JDK >= 17, no action is required, but upgrading is strongly encouraged. For JDK < 17, upgrade to version 2.26.1 or later. As a workaround, set the system property `-Dotel.instrumentation.rmi.enabled=false` to disable the RMI integration.
- CVSS
- 9.3 CRITICAL (v4.0, CNA)CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
- Weakness (CWE)
- CWE-502
- Known exploited
- Not in CISA's KEV catalog
- EPSS (exploitation in the next 30 days)
- Not loaded for this CVE
- Assigned by
- GitHub_M
- NVD analysis
- Modified
- Record last updated
- Aug 17, 2026
- First seen by InfoSec Signals
- Oct 9, 2026
Affected products
open-telemetry opentelemetry-java-instrumentation open_telemetry:opentelemetry_java_instrumentation (from the name) | before 2.26.1 | CNA record |
Red Hat Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 8 redhat:jboss_enterprise_application_platform | 8 | CISA ADP |
Red Hat Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform Expansion Pack redhat:jbosseapxp | All versions | CISA ADP |
linuxfoundation opentelemetry_instrumentation_for_java linuxfoundation:opentelemetry_instrumentation_for_java | before 2.26.1 | NVD |
References
- https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/security/advisories/GHSA-xw7x-h9fj-p2c7x-refsource-confirm, mitigation, vendor-advisory
- https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/commit/9cf4fbaaa9e79226142b2ed42a6f6b4ac0be2197x-refsource-misc, patch
- https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/releases/tag/v2.26.1x-refsource-misc, release-notes
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-33701
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2452071
- https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-33701.json
The CVE record on cve.org NVD's entry
The CVE record is authoritative. Products marked “from the name” were identified from the CNA's free-text names, not a CPE, and are matched less certainly. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.