CVE-2023-50780: Apache ActiveMQ Artemis Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-443j-grxv-2pgv
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CVSS 8.8
CWE-285
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-50780 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.8) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-285: Improper Authorization) affecting Apache ActiveMQ Artemis libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves authenticated users could perform rce via jolokia mbeans. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.29.0.

CVE-2023-50780 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-50780
GHSA Identifier GHSA-443j-grxv-2pgv
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.8
CWE Classification CWE-285: Improper Authorization
Affected Product Apache ActiveMQ Artemis
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2023-50780

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Apache ActiveMQ Artemis dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

org.apache.activemq:artemis-cli fixed: 2.29.0 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.activemq</groupId>
    <artifactId>artemis-cli</artifactId>
    <version>2.29.0</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.activemq

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2023-50780, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.activemq

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Apache ActiveMQ Artemis in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.29.0), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.activemq command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-285: Improper Authorization, where the product does not perform or incorrectly performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action. In Apache ActiveMQ Artemis, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

Apache ActiveMQ Artemis allows access to diagnostic information and controls through MBeans, which are also exposed through the authenticated Jolokia endpoint. Before version 2.29.0, this also included the Log4J2 MBean. This MBean is not meant for exposure to non-administrative users. This could eventually allow an authenticated attacker to write arbitrary files to the filesystem and indirectly achieve RCE. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 2.29.0 or later, which fixes the issue.

CVE-2023-50780 Affected Apache ActiveMQ Artemis Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.29.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.activemq:artemis-cli
maven/org.apache.activemq/artemis-cli
Maven
< 2.29.0
2.29.0

References

NVD — CVE-2023-50780 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-50780
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/activemq-artemis/commit/cfb585eaf61d570eecd65c6ad0e92282df7d3869
Apache ActiveMQ Artemis Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/activemq-artemis
issues.apache.org/jira/browse/artemis... WEB
https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/ARTEMIS-4150
lists.apache.org/thread/63b78shqz312... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread/63b78shqz312phsx7v1ryr7jv7bprg58
Apache ActiveMQ Artemis Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/10/14/2

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-50780?
CVE-2023-50780 is a security vulnerability in Apache ActiveMQ Artemis involving Authenticated users could perform RCE via Jolokia MBeans under CWE-285: Improper Authorization.
Which Apache ActiveMQ Artemis versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.29.0 across affected packages: org.apache.activemq:artemis-cli.
What version fixes CVE-2023-50780?
Upgrading to 2.29.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is artemis-cli affected?
Yes, org.apache.activemq:artemis-cli is affected in releases prior to 2.29.0. Upgrade your dependency to 2.29.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-50780?
CVE-2023-50780 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-50780?
CVE-2023-50780 is classified under CWE-285: Improper Authorization (The product does not perform or incorrectly performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2023-50780?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.activemq'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-443j-grxv-2pgv",
  "modified" : "2025-03-20T19:02:23Z",
  "published" : "2024-10-14T18:30:25Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-50780" ],
  "summary" : "Apache ActiveMQ Artemis: Authenticated users could perform RCE via Jolokia MBeans",
  "details" : "Apache ActiveMQ Artemis allows access to diagnostic information and controls through MBeans, which are also exposed through the authenticated Jolokia endpoint. Before version 2.29.0, this also included the Log4J2 MBean. This MBean is not meant for exposure to non-administrative users. This could eventually allow an authenticated attacker to write arbitrary files to the filesystem and indirectly achieve RCE.\n\n\nUsers are recommended to upgrade to version 2.29.0 or later, which fixes the issue.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.activemq:artemis-cli"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.29.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-50780"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/activemq-artemis/commit/cfb585eaf61d570eecd65c6ad0e92282df7d3869"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/activemq-artemis"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/ARTEMIS-4150"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/63b78shqz312phsx7v1ryr7jv7bprg58"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/10/14/2"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-285" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-10-14T21:17:11Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2024-10-14T16:15:03Z"
  }
}