CVE-2026-63337: RabbitMQ Java client Unvalidated Class.forName Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-6g32-pxv4-2wfj
CWE-470
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-63337 is a HIGH unvalidated class.forname vulnerability (CWE-470: Use of Externally-Controlled Input to Select Classes or Code ('Unsafe Reflection')) affecting RabbitMQ Java client libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves unvalidated class.forname in json-rpc proceduredescription enables arbitrary class loading. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 5.33.0.

CVE-2026-63337 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-63337
GHSA Identifier GHSA-6g32-pxv4-2wfj
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-470: Use of Externally-Controlled Input to Select Classes or Code ('Unsafe Reflection')
Affected Product RabbitMQ Java client
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2026-63337

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected RabbitMQ Java client 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.rabbitmq:amqp-client fixed: 5.33.0
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.rabbitmq</groupId>
    <artifactId>amqp-client</artifactId>
    <version>5.33.0</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=com.rabbitmq

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2026-63337, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.rabbitmq

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of RabbitMQ Java client in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 5.33.0), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.rabbitmq 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-470: Use of Externally-Controlled Input to Select Classes or Code ('Unsafe Reflection'), where the product uses external input with reflection to select which classes or code to use, but it does not sufficiently prevent the input from selecting improper classes or code. In RabbitMQ Java client, 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

The JSON-RPC tools in `com.rabbitmq.tools.jsonrpc` perform `Class.forName(javaReturnType)` with `initialize=true` on class names received from untrusted AMQP messages, without any validation or allowlist. **Vulnerable code** (`ProcedureDescription.java:101-127`): When a `JsonRpcClient` connects, it calls `system.describe` and receives a service description from the AMQP queue. The response JSON includes `javaReturnType` fields that are reflectively set via `JSONUtil.tryFill()`, triggering `setJavaReturnType()` → `computeReturnTypeAsJavaClass()` → `Class.forName(javaReturnType)`. **Attack scenario:** 1. Victim uses `JsonRpcClient` to connect to a JSON-RPC service via RabbitMQ 2. Attacker (co-tenant on shared broker, or MITM) intercepts the `system.describe` request 3. Attacker responds with crafted `javaReturnType` values 4. Victim's client calls `Class.forName(attackerInput)` with default `initialize=true` 5. Static initializers of attacker-specified classes execute in victim's JVM Additionally, the loaded class from `getReturnType()` is passed to `mapper.parse(replyStr, expectedType)` at `JsonRpcClient.java:168`, potentially enabling type-confusion. **Recommended fix:** Use `Class.forName(javaReturnType, false, classLoader)` to prevent static initializer execution, or add an allowlist of permitted return types. **CWE:** CWE-470 --- **Reply from reporter (2026-06-29):** Thanks for the quick turnaround. Fix looks good. Looking forward to the CVE assignment.

CVE-2026-63337 Affected RabbitMQ Java client Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
5.33.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
com.rabbitmq:amqp-client
Maven
< 5.33.0
5.33.0

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-63337?
CVE-2026-63337 is a security vulnerability in RabbitMQ Java client involving Unvalidated Class.forName in JSON-RPC ProcedureDescription enables arbitrary class loading under CWE-470: Use of Externally-Controlled Input to Select Classes or Code ('Unsafe Reflection').
Which RabbitMQ Java client versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 5.33.0 across affected packages: com.rabbitmq:amqp-client.
What version fixes CVE-2026-63337?
Upgrading to 5.33.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is amqp-client affected?
Yes, com.rabbitmq:amqp-client is affected in releases prior to 5.33.0. Upgrade your dependency to 5.33.0 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-63337?
CVE-2026-63337 is classified under CWE-470: Use of Externally-Controlled Input to Select Classes or Code ('Unsafe Reflection') (The product uses external input with reflection to select which classes or code to use, but it does not sufficiently prevent the input from selecting improper classes or code.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2026-63337?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.rabbitmq'. 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-6g32-pxv4-2wfj",
  "modified" : "2026-08-18T16:32:29Z",
  "published" : "2026-08-18T16:32:29Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-63337" ],
  "summary" : "RabbitMQ Java client: Unvalidated Class.forName in JSON-RPC ProcedureDescription enables arbitrary class loading",
  "details" : "The JSON-RPC tools in `com.rabbitmq.tools.jsonrpc` perform `Class.forName(javaReturnType)` with `initialize=true` on class names received from untrusted AMQP messages, without any validation or allowlist.\n\n**Vulnerable code** (`ProcedureDescription.java:101-127`):\nWhen a `JsonRpcClient` connects, it calls `system.describe` and receives a service description from the AMQP queue. The response JSON includes `javaReturnType` fields that are reflectively set via `JSONUtil.tryFill()`, triggering `setJavaReturnType()` → `computeReturnTypeAsJavaClass()` → `Class.forName(javaReturnType)`.\n\n**Attack scenario:**\n1. Victim uses `JsonRpcClient` to connect to a JSON-RPC service via RabbitMQ\n2. Attacker (co-tenant on shared broker, or MITM) intercepts the `system.describe` request\n3. Attacker responds with crafted `javaReturnType` values\n4. Victim's client calls `Class.forName(attackerInput)` with default `initialize=true`\n5. Static initializers of attacker-specified classes execute in victim's JVM\n\nAdditionally, the loaded class from `getReturnType()` is passed to `mapper.parse(replyStr, expectedType)` at `JsonRpcClient.java:168`, potentially enabling type-confusion.\n\n**Recommended fix:** Use `Class.forName(javaReturnType, false, classLoader)` to prevent static initializer execution, or add an allowlist of permitted return types.\n\n**CWE:** CWE-470\n\n---\n\n**Reply from reporter (2026-06-29):** Thanks for the quick turnaround. Fix looks good. Looking forward to the CVE assignment.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:L/SI:L/SA:L"
  } ],
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    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
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      }, {
        "fixed" : "5.33.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
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  }, {
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/rabbitmq/rabbitmq-java-client/commit/9f8e7efd0c648f235dc0e96232ae7efa75ea4fa8"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/rabbitmq/rabbitmq-java-client"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/rabbitmq/rabbitmq-java-client/releases/tag/v5.33.0"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-470" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-08-18T16:32:29Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}