CVE-2018-8016

Missing Authentication for Critical Function in Apache Cassandra

9.8 CriticalFix available

The default configuration in Apache Cassandra 3.8 through 3.11.1 binds an unauthenticated JMX/RMI interface to all network interfaces, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Java code via an RMI request. This issue is a regression of CVE-2015-0225. The regression was introduced in https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/CASSANDRA-12109. The fix for the regression is implemented in https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/CASSANDRA-14173. This fix is contained in the 3.11.2 release of Apache Cassandra.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector: Network
Complexity: Low
Privileges needed: None
User interaction: None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality: High
Integrity: High
Availability: High

Exploit likelihood

2.27%Up 0.7 points since Apr 14, 2021

What each source reports

NVD Score used 9.8

Record: CVE-2018-8016
CVSS 3.0: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0: 7.5 HighAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
Weakness: CWE-306
Updated: 2026-11-02

CVE List No score

Record: CVE-2018-8016
Updated: 2026-11-02

EUVDEUVD-2022-2477 No score

Record: EUVD-2022-2477
Updated: 2026-11-03

GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-52gq-7j6c-xw6x 9.8

Missing Authentication for Critical Function in Apache Cassandra

Record: GHSA-52gq-7j6c-xw6x
CVSS 3.0: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness: CWE-306
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSV 9.8

Record: CVE-2018-8016
CVSS 3.0: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSVGHSA-52gq-7j6c-xw6x 9.8

Missing Authentication for Critical Function in Apache Cassandra

Record: GHSA-52gq-7j6c-xw6x
CVSS 3.0: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness: CWE-306
Updated: 2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
Package	Affected	Fixed
`org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all` Maven	3.8 to 3.11.1	3.11.2
`org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all` Maven	3.8 up to 3.11.2, plus listed versions 3.103.11.03.11.13.9	3.11.2

History

History
Recorded	Changed	Sources
Nov 3, 2026	aliases	EUVD
Nov 2, 2026	first indexed	CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2018-8016 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.8) in Apache Cassandra, published June 28, 2018. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 2.27%, the 83rd percentile. Fixed in org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all 3.11.2.