CVE-2023-46604Apache ActiveMQ, Apache ActiveMQ Legacy OpenWire Module: Unbounded deserialization causes ActiveMQ to be vulnerable to a remote code execution (RCE) attack
- 10.0CriticalCVSS base score
- 100.0%Exploitation in 30 daysEPSS · top 0.1% of all CVEs
- YesKnown exploitedin CISA's KEV since 2 Nov 2023
- 2Public exploitsMetasploit, Nuclei and Exploit-DB
Description
The Java OpenWire protocol marshaller is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution. This vulnerability may allow a remote attacker with network access to either a Java-based OpenWire broker or client to run arbitrary shell commands by manipulating serialized class types in the OpenWire protocol to cause either the client or the broker (respectively) to instantiate any class on the classpath. Users are recommended to upgrade both brokers and clients to version 5.15.16, 5.16.7, 5.17.6, or 5.18.3 which fixes this issue.
Exploited in the wild
CISA lists this vulnerability in its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog as Apache ActiveMQ Deserialization of Untrusted Data Vulnerability.
- Added
- 2 Nov 2023
- Fix due (US federal)
- 23 Nov 2023
- Used by ransomware
- Known
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
ENISA's EU Vulnerability Database lists it as exploited, from CISA's KEV and ENISA's EU KEV, since 2 Nov 2023.
Public exploit
An exploit or proof of concept is public: anyone can try it against an unpatched system. The public collections list a Metasploit module and a Nuclei template for it. CISA's SSVC rates its exploitation: it is being exploited.
Show the exploits2
Metasploit modules1 module
- Apache ActiveMQ Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution (Metasploit module) (opens in a new tab)
exploit/multi/misc/apache_activemq_rce_cve_2023_46604Rank excellentdisclosed 27 Oct 2023
Nuclei templates1 template
- Apache ActiveMQ - Remote Code Execution (Nuclei template) (opens in a new tab)
javascript/cves/2023/CVE-2023-46604.yamlSeverity critical
Modules, templates and exploits as listed by the Metasploit Framework (BSD-3-Clause), ProjectDiscovery's Nuclei templates (MIT) and the Exploit Database (GPLv2), read once a day. Where the data comes from
Timeline
ID reserved
By apache
- 3 days later
· 3 days later
Published
- 6 days later
· 6 days later
Added to CISA KEV
Known exploited, also by ransomware
- 2 years later
· 2 years later
Record updated
Changes after publication (a new score, a public exploit, EPSS crossing 1, 10 or 50 %, leaving KEV) are kept since November 2026; earlier ones are not known.
Scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| apacheCNA (assigner) | 3.1 | Critical10.0 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:H |
| NVDNVD · Analyzed | 3.1 | Critical9.8 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
- EPSS (exploitation in 30 days)
- 100.0% · top 0.1% of all CVEs (12 Nov 2026)
- CISA SSVC
- Exploitation: active · Automatable: yes · Technical impact: total
The list uses the assigner's score when there is one, then CISA's, then NVD's: Critical 10.0.
Affected products
Apache Software Foundation · Apache ActiveMQ
- affected 5.18.0 – < 5.18.3
- affected 5.17.0 – < 5.17.6
- affected 5.16.0 – < 5.16.7
- affected < 5.15.16
Apache Software Foundation · Apache ActiveMQ Legacy OpenWire Module
- affected 5.18.0 – < 5.18.3
- affected 5.17.0 – < 5.17.6
- affected 5.16.0 – < 5.16.7
- affected 5.8.0 – < 5.15.16
Affected packages
From reviewed advisories of the GitHub Advisory Database.
- Mavenorg.apache.activemq:activemq-clientGHSA-crg9-44h2-xw35 (opens in a new tab)
- Mavenorg.apache.activemq:activemq-openwire-legacyGHSA-crg9-44h2-xw35 (opens in a new tab)
References
References8
- https://activemq.apache.org/security-advisories.data/CVE-2023-46604-announcement.txt (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_transferred
- https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/10/27/5 (opens in a new tab)x_transferred
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20231110-0010/ (opens in a new tab)x_transferred
- https://packetstormsecurity.com/files/175676/Apache-ActiveMQ-Unauthenticated-Remote-Code-Execution.html (opens in a new tab)x_transferred
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/11/msg00013.html (opens in a new tab)x_transferred
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Apr/18 (opens in a new tab)x_transferred
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/10/msg00027.html (opens in a new tab)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-46604 (opens in a new tab)government-resource
Sources
The same CVE in the primary databases and aggregators, to check against.
- CVE.org record (opens in a new tab)
- CVE List JSON (GitHub) (opens in a new tab)
- NVD (opens in a new tab)
- CISA KEV catalog (opens in a new tab)
- FIRST EPSS (opens in a new tab)
- EUVD EUVD-2023-2719 (opens in a new tab)
- OSV.dev (opens in a new tab)
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-crg9-44h2-xw35 (opens in a new tab)
- CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup (opens in a new tab)
Badge for a README or a ticket
[](https://cveledger.app/cve/CVE-2023-46604)Record last updated .