CVE-2026-33728: dd-trace-java Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-579q-h82j-r5v2
CVSS 9.8
CWE-502
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-33728 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data) affecting dd-trace-java libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves unsafe deserialization in rmi instrumentation may lead to remote code execution. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.60.3.

CVE-2026-33728 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-33728
GHSA Identifier GHSA-579q-h82j-r5v2
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data
Affected Product dd-trace-java
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.8

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

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
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-2026-33728

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

com.datadoghq:dd-java-agent fixed: 1.60.3
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.datadoghq</groupId>
    <artifactId>dd-java-agent</artifactId>
    <version>1.60.3</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=com.datadoghq

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2026-33728, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.datadoghq

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of dd-trace-java in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.60.3), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.datadoghq 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-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data, where the product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid. In dd-trace-java, 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

In versions of dd-trace-java prior to 1.60.3, 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: 1. dd-trace-java is attached as a Java agent (`-javaagent`) on Java 16 or earlier 2. A JMX/RMI port has been explicitly configured via `-Dcom.sun.management.jmxremote.port` and is network-reachable 3. A gadget-chain-compatible library is present on the classpath ### Impact Arbitrary remote code execution with the privileges of the user running the instrumented JVM. ### Recommendation - For JDK >= 17: No action is required, but upgrading is strongly encouraged. - For JDK >= 8u121 < JDK 17: Upgrade to dd-trace-java version 1.60.3 or later. - For JDK < 8u121 and earlier where serialization filters are not available, apply the workaround described below. ### Workarounds Set the following environment variable to disable the RMI integration: `DD_INTEGRATION_RMI_ENABLED=false` ### Credits This vulnerability was responsibly disclosed by Mohamed Amine ait Ouchebou (mrecho) (Indiesecurity) via the Datadog bug bounty program.

CVE-2026-33728 Affected dd-trace-java Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.60.3
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
com.datadoghq:dd-java-agent
Maven
≥ 0.40.0
< 1.60.3
1.60.3

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-33728?
CVE-2026-33728 is a security vulnerability in dd-trace-java involving Unsafe deserialization in RMI instrumentation may lead to remote code execution under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data.
Which dd-trace-java versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.60.3 across affected packages: com.datadoghq:dd-java-agent.
What version fixes CVE-2026-33728?
Upgrading to 1.60.3 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is dd-java-agent affected?
Yes, com.datadoghq:dd-java-agent is affected in releases prior to 1.60.3. Upgrade your dependency to 1.60.3 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-33728?
CVE-2026-33728 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-33728?
CVE-2026-33728 is classified under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data (The product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2026-33728?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.datadoghq'. 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
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-579q-h82j-r5v2",
  "modified" : "2026-06-09T11:52:29Z",
  "published" : "2026-03-26T16:45:41Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-33728" ],
  "summary" : "dd-trace-java: Unsafe deserialization in RMI instrumentation may lead to remote code execution",
  "details" : "In versions of dd-trace-java prior to 1.60.3, 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:\n1. dd-trace-java is attached as a Java agent (`-javaagent`) on Java 16 or earlier\n2. A JMX/RMI port has been explicitly configured via `-Dcom.sun.management.jmxremote.port` and is network-reachable\n3. A gadget-chain-compatible library is present on the classpath\n\n### Impact\nArbitrary remote code execution with the privileges of the user running the instrumented JVM.\n\n### Recommendation\n- For JDK >= 17: No action is required, but upgrading is strongly encouraged.\n- For JDK >= 8u121 < JDK 17: Upgrade to dd-trace-java version 1.60.3 or later.\n- For JDK < 8u121 and earlier where serialization filters are not available, apply the workaround described below.\n\n### Workarounds\nSet the following environment variable to disable the RMI integration: `DD_INTEGRATION_RMI_ENABLED=false`\n\n### Credits\nThis vulnerability was responsibly disclosed by Mohamed Amine ait Ouchebou (mrecho) (Indiesecurity) via the Datadog bug bounty program.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "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"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.datadoghq:dd-java-agent"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0.40.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.60.3"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/DataDog/dd-trace-java/security/advisories/GHSA-579q-h82j-r5v2"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-33728"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/DataDog/dd-trace-java"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/DataDog/dd-trace-java/releases/tag/v1.60.3"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-502" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-03-26T16:45:41Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-03-27T01:16:20Z"
  }
}