Skip to content
Fencer Intel
critical 9.8

CVE-2023-51518 json

Apache James server: Privilege escalation via JMX pre-authentication deserialisation

published 2y ago modified 4mo ago also EUVD-2024-0689 , GHSA-px7w-c9gw-7gj3

cvss
9.8
version 3.1, CNA
cisa kev
Not listed
not in CISA's catalog
epss
1.2%
EPSS 1.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 68%
public exploits
0
none known

Summary

Apache James prior to version 3.7.5 and 3.8.0 exposes a JMX endpoint on localhost subject to pre-authentication deserialisation of untrusted data. Given a deserialisation gadjet, this could be leveraged as part of an exploit chain that could result in privilege escalation. Note that by default JMX endpoint is only bound locally.

We recommend users to:  - Upgrade to a non-vulnerable Apache James version

- Run Apache James isolated from other processes (docker - dedicated virtual machine)  - If possible turn off JMX

Patch / fix

  • maven org.apache.james:james-server 3.7.5, 3.8.1
  • apache james 3.7.5, 3.8.1
  • org.apache.james james-server 3.7.5, 3.8.1

Is CVE-2023-51518 in your dependencies? Fencer shows which of your repositories are affected as soon as an advisory lands, and opens the fix as a pull request.

Check with Fencer

CISA SSVC

Exploitation
none
Automatable
yes
Technical impact
total
Assessed
2y ago

Exploit prediction

1.19% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 68% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-15).

CVSS scores

assigned by version score vector
CISA ADP 3.1 9.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
GitHub 3.1 9.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA 3.1 9.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected packages

ecosystem package affected fixed in
maven org.apache.james:james-server
<3.7.5
>=3.8.0, <3.8.1
3.7.5
3.8.1

Affected products

  • Apache Software Foundation Apache James server
  • apache james_server

Classification

Weakness
  • CWE-502 Deserialization of Untrusted Data

References

Sources

Fencer Intel keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.

CPEs and fixed versions use Anchore's correction of NVD's data: Added CPE configurations because not yet analyzed by NVD.