CVE-2023-26269: Javax mail extension Apache James Server's JMX Management Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-w7r6-v4j7-h94w
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CVSS 7.8
CWE-862
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-26269 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.8) apache james server's jmx management vulnerability (CWE-862: Missing Authorization) affecting Javax mail extension libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache james server's jmx management service vulnerable to privilege escalation by local user. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.7.4.

CVE-2023-26269 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-26269
GHSA Identifier GHSA-w7r6-v4j7-h94w
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.8
CWE Classification CWE-862: Missing Authorization
Affected Product Javax mail extension
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.8

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

Attack Vector Local (AV:L)
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-2023-26269

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

org.apache.james:javax-mail-extension fixed: 3.7.4 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.james</groupId>
    <artifactId>javax-mail-extension</artifactId>
    <version>3.7.4</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=org.apache.james

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2023-26269, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.james

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Javax mail extension in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 3.7.4), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.james 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-862: Missing Authorization, where the product does not perform an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action. In Javax mail extension, 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

Apache James server version 3.7.3 and earlier provides a JMX management service without authentication by default. This allows privilege escalation by a malicious local user. Administrators are advised to disable JMX, or set up a JMX password. Note that version 3.7.4 onward will set up a JMX password automatically for Guice users.

CVE-2023-26269 Affected Javax mail extension Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.7.4
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.james:javax-mail-extension
maven/org.apache.james/javax-mail-extension
Maven
< 3.7.4
3.7.4

References

NVD — CVE-2023-26269 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-26269
Javax mail extension Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/james-project
lists.apache.org/thread/2z44rg93pflb... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread/2z44rg93pflbjhvbwy3xtz505bx41cbs
Javax mail extension Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/04/18/3

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-26269?
CVE-2023-26269 is a security vulnerability in Javax mail extension involving Apache James server's JMX management service vulnerable to privilege escalation by local user under CWE-862: Missing Authorization.
Which Javax mail extension versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.7.4 across affected packages: org.apache.james:javax-mail-extension.
What version fixes CVE-2023-26269?
Upgrading to 3.7.4 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is javax-mail-extension affected?
Yes, org.apache.james:javax-mail-extension is affected in releases prior to 3.7.4. Upgrade your dependency to 3.7.4 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-26269?
CVE-2023-26269 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-26269?
CVE-2023-26269 is classified under CWE-862: Missing Authorization (The product does not perform an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2023-26269?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.james'. 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-w7r6-v4j7-h94w",
  "modified" : "2025-02-13T18:42:57Z",
  "published" : "2023-04-03T09:30:19Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-26269" ],
  "summary" : "Apache James server's JMX management service vulnerable to privilege escalation by local user",
  "details" : "Apache James server version 3.7.3 and earlier provides a JMX management service without authentication by default. This allows privilege escalation by a malicious local user. Administrators are advised to disable JMX, or set up a JMX password. Note that version 3.7.4 onward will set up a JMX password automatically for Guice users.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.james:javax-mail-extension"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.7.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-26269"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/james-project"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/2z44rg93pflbjhvbwy3xtz505bx41cbs"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/04/18/3"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-862" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-04-03T22:53:29Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-04-03T08:15:00Z"
  }
}