Apache James server: Privilege escalation through unauthenticated JMX

published 2023-04-03 3 y ago modified 2026-09-10 1 mo ago also GHSA-w7r6-v4j7-h94w , EUVD-2023-1405

cvss: 7.8; version 3.1, CNA
cisa kev: Not listed; not in CISA's catalog
epss: 0.7%; EPSS 0.7% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 51%
public exploits: 0; none known

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.

Patch / fix

fixed in 2

maven org.apache.james:javax-mail-extension 3.7.4
apache james 3.7.4

CISA SSVC

Exploitation: none
Automatable: no
Technical impact: total
Assessed: 2 y ago (2024-10-23)

Exploit prediction

0.65% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 51% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).

CVSS scores

assigned by	version	score	vector
CISA ADP	3.1	7.8	CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
NVD	3.1	7.8	CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA	3.1	7.8	CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
GitHub	3.1	7.8	CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected packages

ecosystem	package	affected	fixed in
maven	org.apache.james:javax-mail-extension	<3.7.4	3.7.4

Affected products

Apache Software Foundation Apache James server
apache james_server

Classification

Weakness

CWE-862 Missing Authorization

References

lists.apache.org /thread/2z44rg93pflbjhvbwy3xtz505bx41cbs
vendor-advisory, web, mailing-list
openwall.com /lists/oss-security/2023/04/18/3
web
nvd.nist.gov /vuln/detail/CVE-2023-26269
advisory
github.com /apache/james-project
package

Sources

Fencer Vulns 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.

Summary