CVE-2026-42809: Polaris runtime service Apache Polaris Has An Improper Vulnerability
CRITICALCVE-2026-42809 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.9) apache polaris has an improper vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Polaris runtime service libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache polaris has an improper input validation issue. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.4.1.
CVE-2026-42809 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 9.9
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:C/C:H/I:H/A:H).
How to Fix CVE-2026-42809
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Polaris runtime service dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
<dependency>
<groupId>org.apache.polaris</groupId>
<artifactId>polaris-runtime-service</artifactId>
<version>1.4.1</version>
</dependency>Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.polarisHow to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2026-42809, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:
mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.polarisAnalyze the terminal output to locate any version of Polaris runtime service in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.4.1), your application is affected.
Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.polaris 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-20: Improper Input Validation, where the product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. In Polaris runtime service, 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
CVE-2026-42809 Affected Polaris runtime service Versions
1 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
org.apache.polaris:polaris-runtime-service
|
Maven |
< 1.4.1
|
1.4.1
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-42809?
Which Polaris runtime service versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2026-42809?
Is polaris-runtime-service affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-42809?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-42809?
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2026-42809?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-8ggj-j522-h5qf",
"modified" : "2026-05-08T17:56:10Z",
"published" : "2026-05-04T18:30:31Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-42809" ],
"summary" : "Apache Polaris has an Improper Input Validation Issue",
"details" : "Apache Polaris can issue broad temporary (\"vended\") storage credentials during staged table creation before the effective table location has been validated or durably reserved. Those temporary credentials are meant to limit the scope of accessible table data and metadata, but this scope limitation becomes attacker-directed because the attacker can choose a reachable target location.\n\nIn the confirmed variant, if the caller supplies a custom `location` during stage create and requests credential vending, Apache Polaris uses that location to construct delegated storage credentials immediately. The stage-create path itself neither runs the normal location validation nor the overlap checks before those credentials are issued.\n\nClosely related to that, the staged-create flow also accepts `write.data.path` / `write.metadata.path` in the request properties and\nfeeds those location overrides into the same effective table location set used for credential vending. Those fields are secondary to the main custom-`location` exploit, but they are still attacker-influenced location inputs that should be validated before any credentials are issued.",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H"
}, {
"type" : "CVSS_V4",
"score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Maven",
"name" : "org.apache.polaris:polaris-runtime-service"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "1.4.1"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-42809"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/apache/polaris/commit/c98d610bc8f7ee237b272e01814391838dd6abf9"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/apache/polaris"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/apache/polaris/releases/tag/apache-polaris-1.4.1"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/8tfsr8y7pgq6rdcvjx95hkcr47td671r"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/05/02/10"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20" ],
"severity" : "CRITICAL",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2026-05-08T17:56:10Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2026-05-04T17:16:26Z"
}
}