CVE-2026-54712: Opentelemetry javaagent Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Q: What is CVE-2026-54712?

CVE-2026-54712 is a security vulnerability in Opentelemetry javaagent involving OpenTelemetry Javaagent RMI context propagation allows resource exhaustion under CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption.

Q: Which Opentelemetry javaagent versions are affected?

Affected versions include releases prior to 2.27.0 across affected packages: io.opentelemetry.javaagent:opentelemetry-javaagent.

Q: What version fixes CVE-2026-54712?

Upgrading to 2.27.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.

Q: Is opentelemetry-javaagent affected?

Yes, io.opentelemetry.javaagent:opentelemetry-javaagent is affected in releases prior to 2.27.0. Upgrade your dependency to 2.27.0 or later.

Q: What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-54712?

CVE-2026-54712 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.3 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L.

Q: What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-54712?

CVE-2026-54712 is classified under CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption (The product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource.).

Q: How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2026-54712?

Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=io.opentelemetry.javaagent'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.

MODERATE

Advisory Identifier: GHSA-fq3f-m5qm-99f5

CVSS 5.3

CWE-400

Published 2026-07-29

Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-54712 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.3) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption) affecting Opentelemetry javaagent libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves opentelemetry javaagent rmi context propagation allows resource exhaustion. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.27.0.

CVE-2026-54712 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-54712

GHSA Identifier GHSA-fq3f-m5qm-99f5

Severity MODERATE

CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.3

CWE Classification CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption

Affected Product Opentelemetry javaagent

Package Ecosystem Maven

Published Date 2026-07-29

Last Updated 2026-07-29

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.3

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

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)

Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)

Privileges Required None (PR:N)

User Interaction None (UI:N)

Scope Unchanged (S:U)

Confidentiality None (C:N)

Integrity None (I:N)

Availability Low (A:L)

How to Fix CVE-2026-54712

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Opentelemetry 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.

io.opentelemetry.javaagent:opentelemetry-javaagent fixed: 2.27.0

<dependency>
    <groupId>io.opentelemetry.javaagent</groupId>
    <artifactId>opentelemetry-javaagent</artifactId>
    <version>2.27.0</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=io.opentelemetry.javaagent

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2026-54712, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=io.opentelemetry.javaagent

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Opentelemetry javaagent in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.27.0), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=io.opentelemetry.javaagent 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-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption, where the product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource. In Opentelemetry 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

The RMI context propagation payload reader limits the number of context entries but does not limit the aggregate size of the strings read from the stream. An attacker who can reach an RMI endpoint on an instrumented JVM can send an oversized context propagation payload. This can cause excessive memory allocation while the JVM reads the payload, potentially leading to denial of service. The issue affects only deployments where RMI instrumentation is enabled and an RMI endpoint is network-reachable.

CVE-2026-54712 Affected Opentelemetry javaagent Versions

1 component(s)

Fixed Versions:

2.27.0

Product / Package	Ecosystem	Affected Versions	Fixed Version
io.opentelemetry.javaagent:opentelemetry-javaagent maven/io.opentelemetry.javaagent/opentelemetry-javaagent	Maven	< 2.27.0	2.27.0

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY

https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/security/advisories/GHSA-fq3f-m5qm-99f5

NVD — CVE-2026-54712 NVD

https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-54712

Opentelemetry javaagent Source Repository REPOSITORY

https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/pull/17870

Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT

https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/commit/6ef18806d5daa4913619e4cb33d2d7ed6a853c22

Opentelemetry javaagent Source Repository REPOSITORY

https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation

Opentelemetry javaagent Release RELEASE

https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/releases/tag/v2.27.0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-54712?

CVE-2026-54712 is a security vulnerability in Opentelemetry javaagent involving OpenTelemetry Javaagent RMI context propagation allows resource exhaustion under CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption.

Which Opentelemetry javaagent versions are affected?

Affected versions include releases prior to 2.27.0 across affected packages: io.opentelemetry.javaagent:opentelemetry-javaagent.

What version fixes CVE-2026-54712?

Upgrading to 2.27.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.

Is opentelemetry-javaagent affected?

Yes, io.opentelemetry.javaagent:opentelemetry-javaagent is affected in releases prior to 2.27.0. Upgrade your dependency to 2.27.0 or later.

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-54712?

CVE-2026-54712 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.3 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L.

What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-54712?

CVE-2026-54712 is classified under CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption (The product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource.).

How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2026-54712?

Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=io.opentelemetry.javaagent'. 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-fq3f-m5qm-99f5",
  "modified" : "2026-07-29T17:16:32Z",
  "published" : "2026-07-29T17:16:32Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-54712" ],
  "summary" : "OpenTelemetry Javaagent RMI context propagation allows resource exhaustion",
  "details" : "The RMI context propagation payload reader limits the number of context entries but does not limit the aggregate size of the strings read from the stream.\n\nAn attacker who can reach an RMI endpoint on an instrumented JVM can send an oversized context propagation payload. This can cause excessive memory allocation while the JVM reads the payload, potentially leading to denial of service.\n\nThe issue affects only deployments where RMI instrumentation is enabled and an RMI endpoint is network-reachable.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "io.opentelemetry.javaagent:opentelemetry-javaagent"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.27.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/security/advisories/GHSA-fq3f-m5qm-99f5"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-54712"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/pull/17870"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/commit/6ef18806d5daa4913619e4cb33d2d7ed6a853c22"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/releases/tag/v2.27.0"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-400" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-07-29T17:16:32Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-07-01T22:16:50Z"
  }
}

CVSS V3

5.3 MODERATE