GHSA-h8w2-rv57-vc6f: splunk-otel-javaagent Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CRITICAL
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CWE-502 CWE-1395
Published
Advisory Summary

GHSA-h8w2-rv57-vc6f is a CRITICAL remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data) affecting splunk-otel-javaagent 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 2.26.1.

GHSA-h8w2-rv57-vc6f at a Glance

CVE Identifier N/A
GHSA Identifier GHSA-h8w2-rv57-vc6f
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data
Affected Product splunk-otel-javaagent
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix GHSA-h8w2-rv57-vc6f

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected splunk-otel-javaagent 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.splunk:splunk-otel-javaagent fixed: 2.26.1 
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.splunk</groupId>
    <artifactId>splunk-otel-javaagent</artifactId>
    <version>2.26.1</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.splunk

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by GHSA-h8w2-rv57-vc6f, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.splunk

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of splunk-otel-javaagent in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.26.1), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.splunk 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 splunk-otel-javaagent, 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 prior to 2.26.1, the RMI instrumentation registered a custom endpoint that deserialized incoming data without applying serialization filters. 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. Splunk Distribution of OpenTelemetry Java is attached as a Java agent (`-javaagent`) 2. An RMI endpoint is network-reachable (e.g. JMX remote port, an RMI registry, or any application-exported RMI service) 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 Upgrade to version 2.26.1 or later. ### Workarounds Set the following system property to disable the RMI integration: ``` -Dotel.instrumentation.rmi.enabled=false ``` ### References [Advisory in OpenTelemetry Instrumentation for Java](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/security/advisories/GHSA-xw7x-h9fj-p2c7)

GHSA-h8w2-rv57-vc6f Affected splunk-otel-javaagent Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.26.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
com.splunk:splunk-otel-javaagent
maven/com.splunk/splunk-otel-javaagent
Maven
< 2.26.1
2.26.1

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/security/advisories/GHSA-xw7x-h9fj-p2c7
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/signalfx/splunk-otel-java/security/advisories/GHSA-h8w2-rv57-vc6f
splunk-otel-javaagent Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/signalfx/splunk-otel-java

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GHSA-h8w2-rv57-vc6f?
GHSA-h8w2-rv57-vc6f is a security vulnerability in splunk-otel-javaagent involving Unsafe deserialization in RMI instrumentation may lead to Remote Code Execution under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data.
Which splunk-otel-javaagent versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.26.1 across affected packages: com.splunk:splunk-otel-javaagent.
What version fixes GHSA-h8w2-rv57-vc6f?
Upgrading to 2.26.1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is splunk-otel-javaagent affected?
Yes, com.splunk:splunk-otel-javaagent is affected in releases prior to 2.26.1. Upgrade your dependency to 2.26.1 or later.
What CWE is associated with GHSA-h8w2-rv57-vc6f?
GHSA-h8w2-rv57-vc6f 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 GHSA-h8w2-rv57-vc6f?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.splunk'. 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-h8w2-rv57-vc6f",
  "modified" : "2026-03-26T17:22:54Z",
  "published" : "2026-03-26T17:22:53Z",
  "aliases" : [ ],
  "summary" : "splunk-otel-javaagent: Unsafe deserialization in RMI instrumentation may lead to Remote Code Execution",
  "details" : "In versions prior to 2.26.1, the RMI instrumentation registered a custom endpoint that deserialized incoming data without applying serialization filters. 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. Splunk Distribution of OpenTelemetry Java is attached as a Java agent (`-javaagent`)\n2. An RMI endpoint is network-reachable (e.g. JMX remote port, an RMI registry, or any application-exported RMI service)\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\nUpgrade to version 2.26.1 or later.\n\n### Workarounds\nSet the following system property to disable the RMI integration:\n\n```\n-Dotel.instrumentation.rmi.enabled=false\n```\n\n### References\n[Advisory in OpenTelemetry Instrumentation for Java](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/security/advisories/GHSA-xw7x-h9fj-p2c7)",
  "severity" : [ {
    "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.splunk:splunk-otel-javaagent"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.26.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/security/advisories/GHSA-xw7x-h9fj-p2c7"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/signalfx/splunk-otel-java/security/advisories/GHSA-h8w2-rv57-vc6f"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/signalfx/splunk-otel-java"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-1395", "CWE-502" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-03-26T17:22:53Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}