CVE-2025-26511: Cassandra lucene index plugin Instaclustr Cassandra-Lucene-Index Allows Bypass Of Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-mrqp-q7vx-v2cx
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CVSS 8.8
CWE-288 CWE-863
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2025-26511 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.8) instaclustr cassandra-lucene-index allows bypass of vulnerability (CWE-288: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel) affecting Cassandra lucene index plugin libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves instaclustr cassandra-lucene-index allows bypass of cassandra rbac. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.0.17-1.0.0, 4.1.8-1.0.1.

CVE-2025-26511 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2025-26511
GHSA Identifier GHSA-mrqp-q7vx-v2cx
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.8
CWE Classification CWE-288: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel
Affected Product Cassandra lucene index plugin
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-2025-26511

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Cassandra lucene index plugin 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.instaclustr:cassandra-lucene-index-plugin fixed: 4.0.17-1.0.0 
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.instaclustr</groupId>
    <artifactId>cassandra-lucene-index-plugin</artifactId>
    <version>4.0.17-1.0.0</version>
</dependency>
com.instaclustr:cassandra-lucene-index-plugin fixed: 4.1.8-1.0.1 
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.instaclustr</groupId>
    <artifactId>cassandra-lucene-index-plugin</artifactId>
    <version>4.1.8-1.0.1</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.instaclustr

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2025-26511, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.instaclustr

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Cassandra lucene index plugin in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 4.0.17-1.0.0), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.instaclustr 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-288: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel, where the product requires authentication, but the product has an alternate path or channel that does not require authentication. In Cassandra lucene index plugin, 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

**Summary / Details** Systems running the Instaclustr fork of Stratio's Cassandra-Lucene-Index plugin versions 4.0-rc1-1.0.0 through 4.0.16-1.0.0 and 4.1.0-1.0.0 through 4.1.8-1.0.0, installed into Apache Cassandra version 4.x, are susceptible to a vulnerability which when successfully exploited could allow authenticated Cassandra users to remotely bypass RBAC to access data and and escalate their privileges. **Affected Versions** - Cassandra-Lucene-Index plugin versions 4.0-rc1-1.0.0 through 4.0.16-1.0.0 - versions 4.1.0-1.0.0 through 4.1.8-1.0.0 when installed into Apache Cassandra version 4.x. **Required Configuration for Exploit** These are the conditions required to enable exploit: 1. Cassandra 4.x 2. Vulnerable version of the Cassandra-Lucene-Index plugin configured for use 3. Data added to tables 4. Lucene index created 5. Cassandra flush has run **Mitigation/Prevention** Mitigation requires dropping all Lucene indexes and stopping use of the plugin. Exploit will be possible any time the required conditions are met. **Solution** Upgrade to a fixed version of the Cassandra-Lucene-Index plugin. Review users in Cassandra to validate all superuser privileges.

CVE-2025-26511 Affected Cassandra lucene index plugin Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
4.0.17-1.0.04.1.8-1.0.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
com.instaclustr:cassandra-lucene-index-plugin
maven/com.instaclustr/cassandra-lucene-index-plugin
Maven
≥ 4.0-rc1-1.0.0
< 4.0.17-1.0.0
4.0.17-1.0.0
com.instaclustr:cassandra-lucene-index-plugin
maven/com.instaclustr/cassandra-lucene-index-plugin
Maven
≥ 4.1.0-1.0.0
< 4.1.8-1.0.1
4.1.8-1.0.1

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/instaclustr/cassandra-lucene-index/security/advisories/GHSA-mrqp-q7vx-v2cx
NVD — CVE-2025-26511 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-26511
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/instaclustr/cassandra-lucene-index/commit/44ab4b639c9354a6335f40b1cf6178c745c6e101
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/instaclustr/cassandra-lucene-index/commit/94380b165bd3e597d3e22e47f8cc674ec7c7bf7f
Cassandra lucene index plugin Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/instaclustr/cassandra-lucene-index

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-26511?
CVE-2025-26511 is a security vulnerability in Cassandra lucene index plugin involving Instaclustr Cassandra-Lucene-Index allows bypass of Cassandra RBAC under CWE-288: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel.
Which Cassandra lucene index plugin versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 4.0.17-1.0.0, 4.1.8-1.0.1 across affected packages: com.instaclustr:cassandra-lucene-index-plugin.
What version fixes CVE-2025-26511?
Upgrading to 4.0.17-1.0.0, 4.1.8-1.0.1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is cassandra-lucene-index-plugin affected?
Yes, com.instaclustr:cassandra-lucene-index-plugin is affected in releases prior to 4.0.17-1.0.0, 4.1.8-1.0.1. Upgrade your dependency to 4.0.17-1.0.0, 4.1.8-1.0.1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2025-26511?
CVE-2025-26511 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-2025-26511?
CVE-2025-26511 is classified under CWE-288: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel (The product requires authentication, but the product has an alternate path or channel that does not require authentication.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2025-26511?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.instaclustr'. 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-mrqp-q7vx-v2cx",
  "modified" : "2026-01-22T21:47:02Z",
  "published" : "2025-02-13T17:16:27Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2025-26511" ],
  "summary" : "Instaclustr Cassandra-Lucene-Index allows bypass of Cassandra RBAC",
  "details" : "**Summary / Details**\nSystems running the Instaclustr fork of Stratio's Cassandra-Lucene-Index plugin versions 4.0-rc1-1.0.0 through 4.0.16-1.0.0 and 4.1.0-1.0.0 through 4.1.8-1.0.0, installed into Apache Cassandra version 4.x, are susceptible to a vulnerability which when successfully exploited could allow authenticated Cassandra users to remotely bypass RBAC to access data and and escalate their privileges. \n\n**Affected Versions**\n-\tCassandra-Lucene-Index plugin versions 4.0-rc1-1.0.0 through 4.0.16-1.0.0 \n-\tversions 4.1.0-1.0.0 through 4.1.8-1.0.0\nwhen installed into Apache Cassandra version 4.x.\n\n**Required Configuration for Exploit**\nThese are the conditions required to enable exploit:\n1. Cassandra 4.x\n2. Vulnerable version of the Cassandra-Lucene-Index plugin configured for use\n3. Data added to tables\n4. Lucene index created\n5. Cassandra flush has run\n\n**Mitigation/Prevention**\nMitigation requires dropping all Lucene indexes and stopping use of the plugin. Exploit will be possible any time the required conditions are met.\n\n**Solution**\nUpgrade to a fixed version of the Cassandra-Lucene-Index plugin.  \nReview users in Cassandra to validate all superuser privileges.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.instaclustr:cassandra-lucene-index-plugin"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "4.0-rc1-1.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.0.17-1.0.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.instaclustr:cassandra-lucene-index-plugin"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "4.1.0-1.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.1.8-1.0.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/instaclustr/cassandra-lucene-index/security/advisories/GHSA-mrqp-q7vx-v2cx"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-26511"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/instaclustr/cassandra-lucene-index/commit/44ab4b639c9354a6335f40b1cf6178c745c6e101"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/instaclustr/cassandra-lucene-index/commit/94380b165bd3e597d3e22e47f8cc674ec7c7bf7f"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/instaclustr/cassandra-lucene-index"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-288", "CWE-863" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-02-13T17:16:27Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2025-02-13T16:16:50Z"
  }
}