CVE-2019-17572
Directory traversal in Apache RocketMQ
In Apache RocketMQ 4.2.0 to 4.6.0, when the automatic topic creation in the broker is turned on by default, an evil topic like “../../../../topic2020” is sent from rocketmq-client to the broker, a topic folder will be created in the parent directory in brokers, which leads to a directory traversal vulnerability. Users of the affected versions should apply one of the following: Upgrade to Apache RocketMQ 4.6.1 or later.
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
- Low
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
In Apache RocketMQ 4.2.0 to 4.6.0, when the automatic topic creation in the broker is turned on by default, an evil topic like “../../../../topic2020” is sent from rocketmq-client to the broker, a topic folder will be created in the parent directory in brokers, which leads to a directory traversal vulnerability. Users of the affected versions should apply one of the following: Upgrade to Apache RocketMQ 4.6.1 or later.
- Record
CVE-2019-17572- CVSS 3.1
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N - CVSS 2.0
- 5.0 Medium
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-22
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
In Apache RocketMQ 4.2.0 to 4.6.0, when the automatic topic creation in the broker is turned on by default, an evil topic like “../../../../topic2020” is sent from rocketmq-client to the broker, a topic folder will be created in the parent directory in brokers, which leads to a directory traversal vulnerability. Users of the affected versions should apply one of the following: Upgrade to Apache RocketMQ 4.6.1 or later.
- Record
CVE-2019-17572- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2020-0539 No score
In Apache RocketMQ 4.2.0 to 4.6.0, when the automatic topic creation in the broker is turned on by default, an evil topic like “../../../../topic2020” is sent from rocketmq-client to the broker, a topic folder will be created in the parent directory in brokers, which leads to a directory traversal vulnerability. Users of the affected versions should apply one of the following: Upgrade to Apache RocketMQ 4.6.1 or later.
- Record
EUVD-2020-0539- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-5x3v-2gxr-59m2 No score
Directory traversal in Apache RocketMQ
In Apache RocketMQ 4.2.0 to 4.6.0, when the automatic topic creation in the broker is turned on by default, an evil topic like “../../../../topic2020” is sent from rocketmq-client to the broker, a topic folder will be created in the parent directory in brokers, which leads to a directory traversal vulnerability. Users of the affected versions should apply one of the following: Upgrade to Apache RocketMQ 4.6.1 or later.
- Record
GHSA-5x3v-2gxr-59m2- Weakness
- CWE-22
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
In Apache RocketMQ 4.2.0 to 4.6.0, when the automatic topic creation in the broker is turned on by default, an evil topic like “../../../../topic2020” is sent from rocketmq-client to the broker, a topic folder will be created in the parent directory in brokers, which leads to a directory traversal vulnerability. Users of the affected versions should apply one of the following: Upgrade to Apache RocketMQ 4.6.1 or later.
- Record
CVE-2019-17572- CVSS 3.1
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-5x3v-2gxr-59m2 No score
Directory traversal in Apache RocketMQ
In Apache RocketMQ 4.2.0 to 4.6.0, when the automatic topic creation in the broker is turned on by default, an evil topic like “../../../../topic2020” is sent from rocketmq-client to the broker, a topic folder will be created in the parent directory in brokers, which leads to a directory traversal vulnerability. Users of the affected versions should apply one of the following: Upgrade to Apache RocketMQ 4.6.1 or later.
- Record
GHSA-5x3v-2gxr-59m2- Weakness
- CWE-22
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
org.apache.rocketmq:rocketmq-brokerMaven |
4.2.0 up to 4.6.1 | 4.6.1 |
org.apache.rocketmq:rocketmq-brokerMaven |
4.2.0 up to 4.6.1, plus listed versions 4.3.04.3.14.3.24.4.04.5.04.5.14.5.24.6.0 |
4.6.1 |
Public exploits
Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.
| Source | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|
| PoC in GitHub | shoucheng3/apache__rocketmq_CVE-2019-17572_4-6-0 | 2025-08-16 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases, products | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV, PoC in GitHub |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2019-17572 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.3) in Apache Rocketmq, published May 14, 2020. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 2.99%, the 87th percentile. Fixed in org.apache.rocketmq:rocketmq-broker 4.6.1.
References
lists.apache.org/thread.html/fdea1c5407da47a17d5522fa149a097cacded1916c1c1534d46edc6d%40%3Cprivate.rocketmq.apache.org%3E
seclists.org/oss-sec/2020/q2/112
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-17572
github.com/apache/rocketmq/issues/1637
snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JAVA-ORGAPACHEROCKETMQ-569108